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NEW  ENGLAND 


HKONOLOGY 

FROM  THE 

DISCOVERY  OF  THE  COUNTRY, 

BY 

CABOT, 

IN 

14  9  7,   TO   1  S^O , 

BIT  ^X.DZIM-  BR^DFOHB,  Z.  Xi.  B. 

A  member  of  the   Massachusetts   Historical  Society,  Sec. 


BOSTON: 

PUBLISHED  ACCORDING  TO  ACT  OF  CONGRESS, 
BY    S.     G.  SIMPKINS. 

Joseph  G.  Torrey,  printer. 

1843. 


^  a  AO 


ADVERTISEMENT. 


Rey.  Thomas  Prince  published  New  Eng- 
land Annals,  in  1736,  from  early  times  to 
1633 ;  and  intended  to  have  continued  the 
work  to  a  later  period ;  hut  did  not  live  to  com- 
plete his  plan  ;  and  most  of  the  papers  he  col- 
lected for  the  pm-pose  were  lost.  In  this  vol- 
ume it  is  proposed  to  give  a  concise  view  of 
events  and  dates,  referring  to  the  discovery  of 
North  America,  and  to  the  earliest  visits  of 
Europeans  to  the  territory  called  New  Eng- 
land, or  North  Virginia,  though  already  no- 
ticed by  Prince  ;  and  after  that  period,  a  more 
minute  and  particular  statement.  Free  use  has 
been  made  of  former  annals  and  chronicles  ; — 
particularly  of  the  volumes  of  the  Massachu- 
setts Historical  Society. 

THE  AUTHOR. 
Boston,  August,  1843. 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


1350.  Labrador  (or  Yinland)  was  discovered  by 
fishermen,  or  adventurers,  from  Freezland  :  an  island 
in  about  56°  or  57^°  north  latitude,  which  was  long  oc- 
cupied by  the  Northmen,  who  had  previously  visited 
Greenland.  In  support  of  the  opinion,  that  any  part 
of  America  now  called  New  England,  in  latitude  40® 
— 43°,  were  visited  and  settled  by  the  Northmen  of 
Europe,  as  early  as  the  lOth  or  even  the  11th  cen- 
tury, no  satisfactory  evidence  has  yet  been  produced. 
And  yet  it  is  not  improbable  that  they  visited  the 
coasts  of  Labrador,  two  or  three  centuries  before  the 
voyage  of  Cabot.  They  sailed  from  Greenland,  or 
from  Freezland,  an  island  (sometimes  called  West 
England)  south  of  Greenland,  in  about  57°  north  lat- 
itude, which  has  since  sunk  and  disappeared ;  and 
passed  seven  hundred  miles  southwest,  when  they 
landed  on  the  coast,  as  it  is  said,  where  were  grapes, 
and  the  temperature  much  greater  than  at  Greenland. 
It  has  been  supposed  that  this  was  the  coast  of  New 
England.  Belknap  believed  it  was  Labrador  :  grapes 
are  found  there,  and  the  climate  far  more  mild  than 
Greenland.  The  distance  of  seven  hundred  miles 
would  cause  a  great  difference  in  the  temperature  of 
Greenland,  and  Labrador. 

J  492.    Columbus  discovered  Guanahaui,  one  of 
the  islands  since  called  the  West  Indies. 
1  ^ 


6 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


li9Q>,  or  1497.    Cabot  discovered  Newfoundland, 
and  also  probably  visited  the  island  of  Cape  Breton, 
and  the  Labrador  coast.    The  same  or  next  year, 
he  again  visited  North  America,  and  passed  along 
the  coast,  from  66°  or  67°  to  30°  north  latitude;  and 
as  the  object  was  to  find  a  passage  to  China,  or  Catha, 
he  probably  entered  many  of  the  rivers  and  harbors, 
between  Labrador,  and  Florida.    Some  writers  place 
the  first  voyage  of  Cabot,  in  1496,  but  most  in  1497. 
Some  also  suppose  that  John  Cabot,  the  father,  did 
not  engage  personally  in  the  enterprize,  but  that  Se- 
bastain,  his  son.  commanded  the  first  vo^^age.  The 
commission  of  Henry  "VII.  was  to  John  Cabot  and 
his  three  sons;  and  was  dated  March,  1496,  in  the 
11th  year  of  that  King,  and  he  was  crowned  in  Oct. 
1485.    It  is  not  certain  that  the  enterprize  was  un- 
^dertaken  that  year  (1496)  ;  but  as  it  had  been  con- 
templated some  time,  they  might  be  ready  to  sail  in 
May  following.    Nor  is  it  certain  that  the  father  was 
himself  in  the  expedition.    It  might  be  called  his 
enterprize,  because  he  was  first  named  in  the  com- 
mission, and  was  the  principal  agent  in  preparing  it. 
Sir  W.  Raleigh  had  a  commission  from  Queen  EUz- 
abeth,  at  a  later  date,  to  make  discoveries  and  to 
settle  the  country  north  of  the  Spaniards,  about  Flor- 
ida ;  but  did  not  visit  that  territory  in  pierson  ;  he 
only  employed  others  to  plant  the  colony.    The  son, 
Sebastian,  was  then  twenty-three  or  four  years  of  age 
and  had  been  addicted  to  a  seafaring  life  from  the 
age  of  sixteen.    He  was  also  an  active  and  enter- 
prizing  character,  and  possessed  of  all  the  nautical 
intelligence  of  that  period.    The  editor  of  theThur- 
loe  State  papers  speaks  of  S.  Cabot  as  the  discoverer 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


r 


of  North  xLmerica.  Several  other  writers  mention 
him  as  the  one  who  conducted  the  voyage  in  1496  or 
'97.  Prince,  the  American  annalist,  supposes  it  was 
in  1496;  the  editors  of  Encyclopedia  Americana 
give  1496,  as  the  date  of  first  voyage — so  also  the 
author  of  Lives  of  British  Admirals,  and  of  the  His- 
tory of  British  Dominions  in  America,  and  Galvanus, 
as  quoted  by  Prince,  Peter  Martyr,  and  the  Pope's 
Legate,  Bultagarius.  But  there  is  a  notice  on  the 
map  of  S.  Cabot,  that  his  voyage  was  in  1497. — 
Most  of  these  writers,  also  attribute  the  enterprize  to 
Sebastian  the  son,  as  the  conductor,  and  not  to  John, 
the  father.  Sebastian  Cabot  made  a  second  voyage, 
in  1498;  in  which  he  passed  nearer  the  coast  of 
America,  from  66°  to  Florida,  and  examined  it  more 
fully.  Two  of  these  writers  assert,  "  that  S.  Cabot 
discovered  more  of  America,  than  either  Columbus 
or  Vespncius.''  The  discoveries  of  Cabot,  in  1495. 
or  1497,  when  in  the  service  of  Henry  YII,  of 
England,  were  the  foundation  of  the  claims  of  the 
British  crown  to  the  territory  of  North  America,  from 
Florida  to  the  coasts  of  Labrador.  The  British, 
however,  long  neglected  it,  and  the  French  set  up  a 
claim  to  it,  as  Verrazani,  and  Cartier,  had  visited 
some  parts  of  the  country  in  the  meantime;  the  for- 
mer in  1525,  and  the  latter  in  1534 — particularly  the 
northern  parts,  as  Newfoundland,  Acadia,  and  Can- 
ada. 

1517.  The  reformation  by  Luther  began  on  the 
Continent  of  Europe  in  Germany. 

1525 — 1530.  The  protestant  religion  was  intro- 
duced into  England  gradually,  in  the  rei2;n  of  Henry 

vin. 


8 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


1536.  Reformation  in  Geneva  by  John  Calvin. — 
Several  English,  some  of  them  men  of  estate  and 
education,  made  a  voyage  to  North  America,  and 
visited  Cape  Breton  and  Newfoundland,  at  this  time, 
but  made  no  settlement. 

1550.  The  puritans  arose  at  this  period  in  Eng- 
land, and  Rogers,  Bradford,  Ridley  and  others  suf- 
fered martyrdom,  on  the  charge  of  heresy  and  schism. 

1563.  Is  the  usual  date  of  the  non-conformists  in 
England:  and  also  of  the  slave  trade  by  the  English 
on  the  coasts  of  Africa,  who  carried  negroes  to  the 
West  Indies. 

1567.  And  afterwards  the  English  and  French 
pursued  the  fishing  business  on  the  coast  of  North 
America,  in  about  44°  and  45°  N.  lat. 

1570 — 1587.  The  English  made  several  voyages 
for  discovery,  to  Labrador  coasts,  up  Davis'  Straits, 
and  to  West  of  Greenland. 

1577    Sir  Francis  Drake  sailed  round  the  world. 

1578.  Freezland  in  57°  N.  lat. ;  visited  by  sev- 
eral nautical  adventurers  from  North  of  Europe ; 
described  as  25  leagues  long.  Seen  as  late  as  1780; 
but  has  since  disappeared. 

1583.  Sir  H.  Gilbert  took  formal  possession  of 
Newfoundland  in  the  name  of  Queen  Elizabeth  of 
England,  by  virtue  of  the  discovery  of  S.  Cabot. 

1584.  The  coast  of  America  (afterwards  called 
Virginia)  visited  by  Capt.  Barlow,  in  the  employ- 
ment of  Sir  Walter  Raleigh.  Several  unsuccessful 
attempts  were  made  to  settle  Virginia;  but  no  per- 
manent settlement  till  1607. 

1584.  Subscriptions  to  articles  and  forms  of 
prayers,  and  to  ceremonies  in  England  required. 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


9 


1586.  Tobacco  carried  from  Virginia  to  England. 

1587.  First  English  child  born  in  North  America, 
in  August,  at  Newfoundland. 

1588.  The  Queen  and  bishops  obliged  all  to  con- 
form to  the  rites  and  forms  decreed,  and  were  severe 
towards  all  who  declined  to  observe  them.  But  the 
Puritans  were  numerous,  and  some  separated  from 
the  established  church,  and  worshiped  in  secret  or 
in  private  places. 

1593.  Several  persons  put  to  death  for  writing 
against  the  hierarchy  in  England, 

1602.  Great  numbers  in  the  North  of  England 
entered  into  Covenant,  to  worship  God  according  to 
the  directions  of  th^e  New  Testament,  without  any- 
human  additions. 

The  puritans  and  non-conformists  increased  from 
1580  to  1630,  in  different  parts  of  the  kingdom. — 
About  this  time,  a  separate  church  was  formed  by 
Brewster  and  others,  under  Clifton  and  Robinson, 
as  ministers.  They  were  severely  harrassed  and 
persecuted  by  the  high  church  party,  and  in  1607 
and  '8  retired  to  Amsterdam ;  and  after  a  residence 
of  one  year  in  that  city,  removed  to  Leyden ;  and 
there  continued  till  1620,  when  a  part  of  them  em- 
barked for  America  and  settled  at  Plyniouth.  This 
was  less  than  half  of  the  church ;  the  number  which 
came  over  in  the  Mayflower,  the  first  and  only  ves- 
sel in  that  year,  was  one  hundred.  This  is  generally 
called  the  first  permanent  settlement  in  New  Eng- 
land by  the  English.  The  puritans,  or  those  who 
sought  for  a  pure  and  more  scriptural  worship  and 
church  government,  in  England  at  this  time,  than 
was  then  practised  by  the  established  church,  though. 


10 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


the  reformation  by  Luther  had  been  professedly  fol- 
lowed for  more  than  half  a  century,  were  more  nu- 
merous ;  and  made  efforts  for  further  reforms.  But 
they  were  opposed  and  oppressed  by  the  bishops  and 
others  of  the  high  church  party.  Some  of  them 
therefore  separated  entirely  from  the  regular  churches, 
and  held  religious  meetings  in  private  houses.  Of 
one  of  these  churches  or  congregations,  C.  Cliftor^ 
and  Robinson  were  the  teachers.  "  These  and  such 
as  these  emigrated  to  America  and  settled  Plymouth, 
after  sojourning  in  Holland  eleven  years  ;  that  they 
and  their  posterity  might  enjoy  Christian  privileges 
and  the  worship  of  God  agreeable  to  his  word,  with- 
out human  inventions  or  restrictions."  Their  num- 
bers were  increased,  chiefly  from  the  company  left 
at  Leyden,  in  1621,  '23,  '29,  and  '30.  Therehgious 
character  and  views  of  those  who  settled  at  Salem 
1628,  and  29  ;  and  Boston  and  vicinity,  in  1630,  and 
for  ten  several  following  years,  were  similar  to  those 
cpf  Plymouth.  For  though  they  did  not  separate 
wholly  from  the  Episcopal  Churches  before  they 
left  England,  they  had  been  long  seeking  for  a 
purer  worship  and  discipline  ;  and  when  they  settled 
in  America  they  joined  entirely  with  the  people  of 
Plymouth,  and  firmly  opposed  all  attempts  after- 
wards for  introducing  the  forms  of  Episcopacy  into 
the  Colony;  especially  for  making  them  the  only 
legal  forms.  The  covenant  of  Robinson's  church 
required,  that  the  members  engage  to  walk  in  the 
ways  of  Christ,  already  made  known,  or  to  be  made 
known  to  them;  and  thus  it  may  be  seen,  that  they 
rejected  the  binding  authority  of  man,  as  St.  Paul 
and  Luther  did  in  their  Christian  faith  and  practice. 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


11 


And  in  their  compact  subscribed  in  the  harbor  of 
Cape  Cod,  they  declare,  as  often  on  other  occasions, 
that  they  engaged  in  the  enterprize  '  for  the  glory  of 
God,  and  the  advancement  of  the  Christian  reUgion,' 
as  well  as  for  the  welfare  of  their  posterity.  In  1610, 
Mr.  Robinson  published  an  apology  for  separating 
from  the  Episcopal  Church — and  many  left  England 
and  joined  his  Church  at  Leyden,  and  it  became  a 
large  congregation. 

1602 — 1620,  In  this  period  the  coasts  were  vis- 
ited by  several  vessels  for  discovery,  or  fishery,  or 
trade  with  the  native  Indians  ;  but  not  from  re- 
ligions motives^  as  was  the  case  with  those  who  set- 
tled Plymouth,  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut. 

1602.  Bartholomew  Gosnold  made  a  voyage  to 
North  Virginia,  or  New  England,  and  discovered  the 
coasts  in  latitude  43°,  and  then  sailed  southwest  to 
Cape  Cod,  and  to  the  Elizabeth  Islands ;  and  land- 
ed on  some  of  them.  At  that  time  there  was  not 
any  Europeans  between  Newfoundland  and  Florida, 
where  were  a  few  Spaniards.  A  settlement  had  in- 
deed been  made  in  Virginia,  but  was  broken  up. 

1603.  Martin  Prin,  or  Pring,  went  on  a  voyage 
of  discovery  to  those  places  where  Gosnold  had  been 
in  1602.  The  Vineyard  probably  received  its  name 
from  him;  it  being  called  by  early  writers  Martinis 
Vineyard.  This  year  De  Monts,  a  Frenchman, 
made  a  settlement  in  Acadia,  by  a  commission  from 
the  King  of  France,  by  whom  the  country  was 
claimed. 

1605.  Capt.  George  Weymouth  visited  North 
Virginia,  latitude  43°,  42°,  &c.,  and  entered  several 
rivers,  probably  Penobscot,  Kennebec,  &c.,  and  car- 


12 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


ried  several  of  the  native  Indians  to  England,  from 
whom  Gorges  received  much  information  of  the 
country. 

1606.  Two  companies  were  formed  in  England, 
for  settling  North  and  South  Virginia,  and  in  1620 
these  were  confirmed  or  renewed :  the  northern  ter- 
ritory was  called  New  England,  and  they  were 
wholly  distinct  companies.  Pring  visited  N.  Vir- 
ginia again  this  year,  and  Gorges  says  gave  the  best 
account  of  the  coast  then  obtained.  Capt.  Henry 
Challongs,  a  brave  and  intelligent  man,  was  sent 
out  by  the  Plymouth  company  to  New  England, 
but  his  voyage  was  unsuccessful  and  useless. 

1607.  A  settlement  made  at  Kennebec  river  by 
a  company  under  George  Popham  ;  but  suffered  very 
severely  during  the  winter  following,  and  they  left  it 
in  the  spring.  The  same  year  a  settlement  was  per- 
manently made  in  Virginia. 

The  setlement  made  by  the  English  under  Sir 
George  Popham,  was  wholly  abandoned  within  a 
year.  It  consisted  of  one  hundred  persons ;  nearly 
the  same  number  as  landed  and  settled  at  Plymouth 
in  December,  1620. 

1609.  Henry  Hudson,  while  in  the  service  of  the 
Dutch,  visited  North  river,  and  sailed  some  way  up 
it.  And  the  next  year  a  Dutch  company  which 
traded  to  the  West  Indies  took  possession  of  the 
place  to  trade  with  Indians  for  furs.  (In  dividing 
North  and  South  Virginia  in  1606,  King  James's 
patent  directed  that  one  hundred  miles  should  re- 
main vacant.)  They  were  driven  off  soon  after  by 
some  men  from  Virginia,  who  claimed  the  terri- 
tory for  the  crown  of  England ;  but  the  Dutch  again 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


seized  on  it,  and  occupied  it  several  years.  Hudson 
sailed  up  the  river  about  one  hundred  and  sixty 
miles.  He  says  the  Indians  had  corn,  beans,  to- 
bacco, oysters,  pipes  of  copper,  and  earthen  pots  to 
dress  their  meat.  He  had  passed  Cape  Cod,  on  his 
way  south  from  Greenland. 

1610.  A  patent  for  Newfoundland,  or  a  part  of  it, 
was  granted  by  King  James,  to  certain  noblemen 
and  merchants  of  Bristol.  They  began  a  colony 
there,  but  it  did  not  prosper. 

1613.  Capt.  Argal,  from  Virginia,  attacked  the 
French  of  Mount  Desert,  St.  Croix,  and  Port  Royal, 
and  destroyed  their  forts.  This  was  done  by  order 
of  the  governor  of  Virginia,  as  the  English  claimed 
the  country  where  the  French  had  settled,  by  virtue 
of  Cabot's  discovery  in  1497. 

A  destructive  pestilence  raged  among  the  In- 
dians in  North  Virginia,  or  New  England,  by 
which  very  great  numbers  were  destroyed.  Some 
writers  place  it  in  1617,  while  others  assert  there 
were  two,  one  in  1613  and  one  in  1617.  In  1632 
also  they  suffered  very  much  from  a  raging  pesti- 
lence. 

1614.  Capt.  John  Smith,  who  had  a  few  years 
before  acted  a  conspicuous  part  in  Virginia,  visited 
the  coasts  in  43°  and  42°,  for  fishing  and  further 
discoveries.  He  left  his  men  to  fish,  while  he  passed 
along  the  coast  southwest,  and  examined  several 
rivers  and  harbors  as  far  as  Cape  Cod.  Capt. 
Smith  made  a  map  of  the  coast,  and  called  the  conn- 
try  New  England,  which  was  confirmed  by  Prince 
Charles.  Capt.  Hunt  siezed  several  Indians  on  the 
coasts  of  New  Engl^and,  sold  most  of  them  at  Mai- 

2 


14 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


aga  for  slaves,  and  carried  three  to  London.  This 
vile  conduct  rendered  the  natives  very  hostile 
towards  the  English  settlers  for  several  years  after. 
At  this  time  the  territory  called  New  England  ex- 
tended from  the  river  Hudson  to  Newfoundland,  or 
to  L'Acadie,  which  was  then  claimed  and  partially 
settled  hy  the  French.  Sometimes  they  asserted  a 
right  only  to  the  country  as  far  west  as  Kennebec,  but 
sometimes  to  the  Hudson,  by  virtue  of  the  discov- 
eries of  Cartier  and  Verrazani. 

Capt.  John  Smith  made  a  voyage  to  North  Yir- 
ginia.  afterwards  called  New  England :  and  entered 
several  harbors  between  the  island  Mohegan,  east  of 
Kennebec,  and  Cape  Cod.  He  made  a  map  of  the 
coasts,  and  intended  to  form  a  settlement,  but  met 
with  disasters  and  losses,  and  died  in  1631. 

1615.  Sir  Richard  Hawkins,  president  of  the 
company  of  adventurers  at  Plymouth,  in  England, 
made  a  voyage  to  North  Virginia,  to  examine  the 
country  and  its  products.  There  was  then  a  war 
among  the  Indians,  and  he  did  not  therefore  remain 
long  on  the  coasts,  nor  make  any  important  discov- 
eries, but  soon  proceeded  to  Virginia. 

1615 — 1616.  Several  vessels  sailed  for  New 
England,  but  principally  for  trade.  In  1616,  Sir 
F.  Gorges,  a  chief  man  of  the  Plymouth  company 
in  England,  made  a  temporary  settlement  at  the 
mouth  of  Saco  river,  where  he  had  a  grant  from  that 
company,  and  extended  it  afterward  to  Piscataqua. 
A  few  of  the  men  remained  through  the  winter,  and 
afterwards  he  sent  others,  and  kept  up  an  almost 
continuous  occupancy,  by  his  agent  Richard  Vines; 
who  was  at  Saco  with  a  few  others,  also  agents  of 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


15 


Gorges.  They  passed  the  winter  there.  A  mortal 
disease  carried  off  most  of  the  Indians,  but  none  of 
the  English  suffered  by  it.  Ten  or  twelve  years  later 
Gorges  had  several  agents  in  that  vicinity  ;  who  were 
unfriendly  and  interfered  with  the  people  of  Ply- 
mouth and  Massachusetts. 

1616 — 1618.  In  this  period  several  vessels  were 
fitted  out,  by  Gorges  and  others  of  tlie  company  of 
adventurers,  to  make  discoveries  on  the  New 
England  coasts,  as  Harley,  Harlow,  Hobson,  Ro- 
craft  and  Dermer;  the  chief  of  whom,  after  Capt. 
Smith,  was  Dermer.  He  was  on  the  coasts  two  or 
three  years,  and  in  several  harbors  near  Cape  Cod 
-Plymouth  bay,  and  Vineyard,  as  well  as  in  Maine. 
He  was  an  intelligent  man,  and  he  preceded  the 
first  settlement  of  Plymouth  only  a  few  months. 
He  landed  at  that  place,  and  travelled  to  some  part 
of  Narraganset,  as  all  the  waters  about  Rhode  Island, 
were  then  called.  He  afterwards  sailed  to  the  Vine- 
yard, and  there  was  mortally  wounded  by  the  Indians 
who  assaulted  him.  They  were  quite  hostile  then, 
on  account  of  the  capture  of  several  of  their  coun- 
trymen, by  Capt.  Hunt,  a  few  years  before.  Most 
of  them,  except  Massasoit,  were  very  inimical  to  the 
Pilgrims,  who  first  settled  at  Plymouth.  Capt. 
Dermer  seems  to  have  examined  the  harbor  of 
Plymouth,  Barnstable,  &c.  The  Plymouth  company 
had  great  confidence  in  him. 

1617.  The  Leyden  church  and  people  determine 
to  remove  to  America,  for  many  reasons,  chiefly 
lest  their  children  should  degenerate,  and  religion 
die  among  them;  and  from  a  hope  of  laying  a  foun- 
dation or  making  way  for  propagating  the  Gospel  to 


16 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


the  remote  ends  of  the  earth,  though  they  should  be 
but  stepping-stones  to  others.  Some  of  the  Dutch 
made  them  large  offers  to  go  under  them,  near  Hud- 
son's river  which  they  then  claimed.  But  they  chose 
to  be  under  the  English  government,  if  they  could 
enjoy  their  religious  privileges.  The  majority  de- 
cided in  favor  of  Virginia,  but  in  a  distinct  body  or 
government.  The  agents  sent  to  England,  to  treat 
with  the  Virginia  company  were  Carver,  Cushman, 
and  Bradford.  They  say,  "  We  believe  the  Lord  is 
with  us,  to  whose  service  we  have  given  ourselves 
in  many  trials ;  and  that  he  will  prosper  us  accord- 
ing to  the  simplicity  of  our  hearts.  We  are  well 
weaned  from  the  delicate  milk  of  our  mother  coun- 
try, and  inured  to  the  difficulties  of  a  strange  land. 
The  people  are  probably  industrious  and  frugal  as 
any  in  the  world.  And  we  are  knit  together  as  a 
body,  in  a  strict  and  sacred  bond  and  covenant  of  the 
Lord."  They  requested  a  royal  license  for  the  en- 
joyment of  religious  liberty,  but  James  declined  giving 
it,  but  said  he  would  not  interfere  so  long  as  they 
were  loyal  and  peaceable. 

1618.  Began  the  famous  religious  war  between 
Papists  and  Protestants,  in  Bohemia  and  Germany  ; 
which  continued  thirty  years,  and  destroyed  325,000 
people. 

1619.  A  patent  was  obtained  by  the  English  peo- 
ple at  Leyden,  from  the  Virginia  company,  which  was 
taken  in  the  name  of  one  Wmcob,  who  afterwards 
declined  going  to  America ;  and  it  was  of  no  avail 
or  benefit,  though  it  cost  much.  But  it  was  on  re- 
ceiving this  patent,  in  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1619, 
that  they  prepared  to  emigrate  and  settle  in  America, 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


17 


where  they  might  enjoy  religious  liberty,  directed 
and  controlled  only  by  the  word  of  God.  Thomas 
Weston  and  some  other  merchants  of  I^ondon  en- 
couraged them,  and  promised  to  advance  money  or 
goods  for  the  enterprise.  But  their  promise  was  ful- 
filled only  so  far  as  their  own  profits  dictated.  A 
vessel  of  sixty  tons  was  purchased  and  fitted  in  Hol- 
land to  transport  part  of  the  company  to  America, 
and  to  remain  in  the  country  for  their  use.  Agents 
were  sent  from  Leyden  to  agree  with  the  Plymouth 
company  in  England  several  times.  That  company 
was  then  in  confusion,  having  disputes,  and  nothing 
definite  could  be  done  as  to  a  patent.  It  was  at  this 
time  the  Dutch  urged  the  pilgrims  to  go  to  Hudson's 
river  to  settle  on  lands  claimed  by  them,  and  where 
they  then  had  a  trading  house.  But  the  claims  of  the 
Dutch  to  the  territory  were  not  admitted  by  the  King 
of  England,  and  the  Leyden  church  were  desirous 
of  avoiding  all  occasions  of  dispute:  and  chose 
also  to  be  connected  with  the  British  government 
rather  than  any  other.  King  James,  when  consult- 
ed, would  not  give  liberty  of  conscience  in  religious 
concerns,  in  form  or  officially,  but  said  he  would  not 
interfere  so  long  as  they  conducted  peaceably. 

Capt.  Rocraft  Avas  on  the  coast  of  New  England 
this  year,  and  made  a  favorable  report  of  the  coun- 
try, and  a  settlement  was  therefore  proposed  by 
Gorges. 

1620.  Eight  ships  from  west  of  England  visit 
coasts  of  New  England  to  fish.  Capt.  Dermer  sent 
out  by  the  Plymouth  company  was  on  the  coasts  of 
New  England  1619  and  1620,  at  Mohegan,  Cape  Cod, 
Plymouth  bay  or  Patuxet,  and  landed  there  ;  he  also 
2  ^ 


18 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


went  to  the  Vineyard,  Long  Island  Sound,  and  so  to 
Virginia,  and  there  died. 

The  companies  called  South  and  North  Virginia, 
first  granted  hy  King  James  in  1606,  for  settling  and 
governing  the  territory  of  the  crown  in  North  Amer- 
ica, were  now  renewed  or  more  distinctly  organized; 
large  patents  granted  them,  and  charters,  giving  ex- 
tensive civil  and  political  powers.  The  patent  for 
Virginia  was  indeed  granted  long  before  the  first 
above  date.  Now  the  territory  of  each  company 
was  defined  or  limited;  the  South  Virgmia,  from 
34°  to  41°;  and  the  North,  or  New  England,  from 
41°  to  48°;  but  other  writers  state  the  north  divi- 
sion to  be  from  41°  to  45°,  and  the  chief  settlement 
to  be  at  least  one  hundred  miles  distant  from  the 
south  territory.  The  enterprise  of  the  company  in 
the  Mayflower  (1620)  was  one  of  great  danger  and 
exposure  ;  and  no  support  was  adequate  to  the  exi- 
gency but  Christian  faith  and  religious  motives. 
They  made  "  a  settlement  on  bare  creation."  Their 
patent  for  Virginia  was  of  no  avail  to  them,  as  the 
person  in  whose  name  it  was  made  did  not  accom- 
pany them.  And  it  was  only  from  necessity  they 
ever  accepted  it,  or  proposed  to  be  under  it;  as  in 
their  views  and  objects  of  religion,  they  were  a  dif- 
ferent people.  They  then  intended  for  Hudson's 
river,  claimed  by  the  Dutch  ;  on  being  encouraged 
by  some  Dutch  Merchants  in  Holland,  whose  right 
to  the  territory  however  was  disputed  ;  but  they 
preferred  to  be  on  territory  claimed  by  England,  as 
was  that  indeed  about  Hudson's  river,  but  was  then 
possessed  by  the  Dutch,  for  the  purpose  of  trade 
with  the  Indians.    The  Dutch  government  had  in- 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


19 


corporated  a  company  to  trade  to  the  West  Indies  ; 
they  occupied  Hudson's  river,  and  territory  near  it, 
under  that  Ucense.  As  to  the  latter  place,  they 
were  frustrated  in  their  purposes.  And  perhaps  it 
was  fortunate  they  were  carried  to  another  part, 
rather  than  to  Hudson's  river,  as  the  Indians  were 
then  numerous  in  that  vicinity,  but  had  been  chiefly 
destroyed,  by  a  mortal  disease,  a  few  years  before, 
in  Plymouth  colony  and  in  Massachusetts.  The 
Plymouth  settlers  afterwards  obtained  a  patent  for 
the  colony,  but  never  received  a  charter,  as  Massa- 
chusetts did.  Capt.  Pierce  first  took  one  for  them,  but 
in  his  own  name,  with  undue  powers  for  himself, 
and  it  was  given  up  by  him,  on  remonstrance  and 
objections  made ;  and  in  1630  one  was  made  out  in 
the  name  of  William  Bradford  and  associates;  but 
for  the  equal  benefit  of  all.  The  expenses  attending 
the  procuring  of  all  these,  cost  large  sums  of  money, 
for  which  the  company  was  long  in  debt.  Before 
landing  at  Cape  Cod,  a  civil  compact  was  prepared 
and  subscribed,  for  the  purpose  of  social  order,  and 
the  preservation  of  the  welfare  of  the  company. 
John  Carver  was  chosen  governor.  After  examin- 
ing the  country  round  Barnstable  bay,  they  landed 
at  a  place  afterwards  called  Plymouth,  the  22d  of 
December;  and  there  raised  huts  for  shelter. 

In  the  Mayflower,  the  ship  now  arrived,  there 
were  one  hundred  and  one  souls,  twenty-one  were 
subscribers  to  the  civil  compact  in  the  harbor  of 
Cape  Cod.  Some  were  servants,  who  were  not  prob- 
ably desired  to  sign  it.  Several  women  and  young 
children  were  of  this  company  ;  eighteen  married 
women;  two  or  three  female  servants  ;  three  or  four 


20 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


men  servants.  Eighteen  men  and  several  women 
died  before  first  of  April.  Twenty-three  women, 
children,  and  servants  died  in  same  period.  The 
wives  of  Carver,  Bradford,  Winslow,  Brewster,  Al- 
lerton.  Stand ish,  Warren,  Hopkins,  MulHns,  Fuller, 
White,  Eaton,  Chilton,  Tinker,  and  some  others, 
came  in  the  Mayflower.  The  wives  of  Bradford, 
Winslow,  Standish,  and  Allerton  died  in  a  short 
time  after  their  arrival.  The  principal  men  of  this 
company  were  John  Carver,  William  Brewster, 
William  Bradford,  Edward  Winslow,  Miles  Standish, 
Isaac  Allerton,  John  Alden,  Samuel  Fuller,  John 
Rowland,  Richard  Warren,  Stephen  Hopkins,  Wil- 
liam White,  William  MuUins  ;  Thomas  Prince,  and 
Jonathan  Brewster  joined  them  in  November,  1621  ; 
and  some  years  later,  George  Morton,  William  Col- 
lier, Timothy  Hatherby,  William  Thomas,  who  were 
all  active  and  useful  characters.  Robert  Cushman 
also  came  over  in  November,  1621,  but  returned 
after  a  few  weeks  ;  intending,  however,  to  become 
a  permanent  settler.  He  was  among  the  most  in- 
telligent and  forward  in  preparing  for  the  enterprise 
in  1618 — 1620,  before  the  company  left  Holland  for 
America.  His  son  was  brought  up  in  Governor 
Bradford's  family,  and  was  worthy  of  his  father  and 
guardian.  The  father  died  in  England  in  1624  or 
1625.  Mr.  Cushman  preached  at  Plymouth,  1621, 
being  the  first  sermon  by  a  clergyman  delivered  in 
New  England.    It  was  published  in  two  editions. 

New  England  or  North  Virginia  company  obtain 
a  new  grant,  or  the  former  one  of  1606,  was  renewed. 

1620 — 3.  Grants  to  Gorges  and  to  Mason  ;  cause 
of  great  difficulty  and  disputes  about  Massachusetts 
north  bounds  and  claims. 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


21 


1621.  John  Mason  had  a  patent  from  the  Ply- 
mouth company  in  England  for  the  territory  between 
Naumkeag  to  the  Merrimac  river;  but  afterwards 
relinquished  his  title  and  claim  to  it.  This  was  not 
the  Capt.  J.  Mason,  of  Connecticut,  as  som.e  writers 
have  asserted. 

1621.  The  first  public  worship  on  the  Lord's 
day,  on  shore  after  the  company  had  landed  at 
Plymouth,  was  January  21,  1621. 

In  June  of  this  year,  a  duel  was  fought  by  two 
servants  of  Mr.  Hopkins,  and  both  were  wounded. 
The  punishment  adjudged  by  the  company  was  to 
have  their  head  and  feet  tied  together,  and  so  to 
remain  for  twenty-four  hoars.  But  their  pain  was 
thought  to  be  very  great,  by  their  groans  ;  and,  on 
their  promise  to  behave  well  in  future,  and  at  the 
request  of  their  master,  the  governor  ordered  them 
to  be  released  within  a  few  hours. 

April.    Governor  Carver  of  Plymouth  died. 

1622.  Sir  F.  Gorges  and  Mason  obtained  a  grant 
from  the  Plymouth  company,  of  the  country  from 
Merrimack  river  to  the  Kennebec;  and  extending 
to  Canada;  and  called  it  Laconia.  There  was 
much  uncertainty  as  to  bounds,  and  interference  of 
titles  in  Maine  for  many  years. 

The  company  in  England  said  that  New  England 
was  without  the  realm,  and  denied  the  right  of  par- 
liament to  make  laws  for  it.  King  James  also  said 
parliament  had  no  right  to  interfere  with  the  govern- 
ment of  it. 

Captain  Jones  visited  Plymouth  harbor,  when  on 
a  voyage  to  Virginia.  He  examined  several  harbors 
between  Plymouth  and  Virginia  at  that  time. 


22 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


New;  England  company  in  England  said  New 
England  was  without  the  realm,  and  not  subject  to 
laws  of  parliament,  only  under  prerogative  of  the 
crown.  King  James  denied  the  power  or  right  of 
parliament  to  interfere. 

Weston  settled  at  essagusset,  was  one  of  the 
merchant  adventurers  who  disbursed  £500  for  the 
first  company  at  Plymouth,  but  afterwards  deserted 
them.  His  men  were  supported  a  long  time  at  Ply- 
mouth in  1622.    An  unruly  set. 

Capt.  Jones  visited  Plymouth  harbor,  on  a  voyage 
of  discovery  of  harbors  between  Plymouth  and  Vir- 
ginia. 

1623.  Pierce  eiriployed  to  procure  a  patent — had 
it  taken  in  his  own  name,  intending  that  the  com- 
pany should  be  his  tenants.  He  was  obliged  to 
surrender  it  afterwards. 

Gorges  made  governor  general  over  all  New 
England,  and  Morrell  an  episcopalian  clergyman, 
came  with  him;  but  did  not  interfere  in  church 
affairs. 

1623.  Robert  Gorges,  son  of  Sir  F.  Gorges,  be- 
gan a  settlement  at  Wessagusset,  where  Thomas 
Weston  had  been  the  year  before  with  a  few  people. 
He  had  a  commission  to  be  governor  general  of  all 
New  England,  and  his  assistants  admiral  West, 
Christopher  Leavitt,  the  governor  of  Plymouth,  Rev. 
Mr.  Morrell  was  with  him,  to  oversee  churches, 
an  episcopalian.  A  dispute  between  Gorges  and 
Weston  was  settled  by  the  influence  of  governor 
Bradford.  Piscataqua  river  was  visited  soon  after 
the  first  settlements  in  New  England,  for  trallic  with 
the  natives,  on  the  higher  parts  of  the  river.  The 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHROxNOLOGY. 


23 


settlement  did  not  prosper  for  several  years.  Neal 
was  the  first  agent  of  Gorges,  and  afterwards  Wil- 
liams, a  more  prudent  man.  When  a  minister 
preached  to  them  and  exhorted  them  to  remember 
that  they  came  to  extend  Christianity,  and  they 
shonld  be  sober,  devout  and  exemplary  in  their 
morals,  one  spoke  out  and  said,  "  they  came  to  fish 
and  trade." 

Robert  Gorges,  son  of  Sir  F.  Gorges  had  a  grant 
from  the  Plymouth  company  of  a  tract  ten  miles  by 
thirty,  on  or  about  Massachusetts  bay  at  Wessa- 
gusset,  now  Weymouth.  He  was  to  be  governor  of 
all  the  plantations  in  New  England,  as  there  were 
many  intruders,  and  fishermen  did  damage,  and 
sold  guns  and  ammunition  to  Indians — the  governor 
of  New  Plymouth  to  be  one  of  his  council.  But 
Gorges  went  soon  to  Piscataqua  and  to  Agamenti- 
cus.  They  were  to  govern  according  to  the  great 
charter  of  England,  and  such  laws  as  should  be 
made  by  authority  of  the  state  assembled  in  parlia- 
ment in  New  England. 

Grant  to  a  grandson  of  Sir  Ferdinand  Gorges  and 
Col.  Norton  of  a  tract  at  Agamenticus. 

1624.  Edward  Winslow  brought  several  cows 
and  a  bull  to  Plymouth  from  England.  There 
were  now  five  assistants  to  the  Governor  in  that 
Colony. 

1624.  There  were  nearly  two  hundred  souls  in 
Plymouth  colony  ;  and  in  1630,  when  Charlestown, 
Boston,  &c.  were  settled,  three  hundred ;  one  hun- 
dred came  in  1620 ;  a  servant  of  Dr.  Samuel  Fuller 
died  on  the  passage  ;  and  the- wife  of  WilHam  White 
had  a  son  born  in  Cape  harbar  before  the  company 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


landed  at  Plymouth.  The  wife  of  governor  Brad- 
ford was  drouaied  in  Cape  Cod  harbor ;  and  he  was 
married  again  in  1623.  William  White  died  early  ; 
so  did  the  wife  of  governor  Winslow ;  and  he  after- 
wards married  Mrs.  White.  It  was  the  first  mar- 
riage in  the  colony.  In  1621,  in  the  Fortune,  there 
came  to  Plymouth  thirty-five  souls  ;  Thomas  Prince, 
afterwards  governor,  was  one  of  them,  and  two 
daughters  and  a  son  of  elder  William  Brewster.  In 
August,  1623,  came  sixty  persons  more,  (an  old 
writer  says  sixty  families.)  They  were  chiefly  from 
Leyden.  In  1634,  Rev.  John  Lothrop  and  some  of 
his  church  came  to  Plymouth.  Mrs.  Robinson, 
widow  of  Rev.  John  Robinson,  and  a  son,  came 
with  Mr.  Lothrop.  Mr.  Lothrop  had  been  pastor  of 
an  independent  congregation  in  London,  from  1.818. 
He  was  sometime  before  in  Holland  :  was  conver- 
sant with  Mr.  Robinson,  and  adopted  his  views  gen- 
erally. 

1624.  Edward  Winslow  went  to  England  as 
agent  and  took  up  goods,  at  a  very  high  interest,  for 
the  company,  to  trade  with  the  Indians  for  furs,  as 
well  as  for  personal  use.  Winslow  always  proved 
able  and  faithful.  Allerton  also  was  often  employed 
as  agent  to  England,  and  long  enjoyed  the  confi- 
dence of  the  company;  but  in  1633,  in  some  cases, 
conducted  with  less  judgment  and  discretion  than  he 
had  done  ;  particularly  by  employing  and  bringing 
back  to  Plymouth,  Thomas  Morton,  who  had  resided 
at  Mount  Wallaston  (Braintree)  and  whose  conduct 
was  very  reprehensible  and  disorderly  :  and  who 
had  falsely  accused  the  Plymouth  and  Massachu- 
setts rulers  to  the  King  and  Bishops.    Standish  was 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


25 


once  employed  as  agent  to  England,  also,  about  this 
period  ;  but  his  personal  service  was  thought  neces- 
sary in  the  Colony,  for  its  safety.  His  name  was  a 
terror  to  the  savages  ;  and  they  probably  would  have 
made  more  frequent  attacks  on  the  English  but  from 
fear  of  this  redoubtable  military  Chief — A  settlement 
was  made  in  1623  at  the  mouth  of  Piscataqua  river, 
by  David  Thompson,  as  agent  for  Sir  F.  Gorges, 
who  was  one  of  the  Plymouth  company  in  England, 
and  had  a  patent  of  a  large  tract  of  land  there. 

1624.  Capt.  R.  Gorges,  son  of  Sir  F.  Gorges 
visited  Plymouth,  after  having  been  to  Maine.  He 
had  a  commission  as  Gov.  General  of  New  England, 
but  did  not  exercise  authority  under  it.  And  an 
Episcopal  Clergyman  of  the  name  of  Morell,  who 
staid  at  Plymouth  a  year,  had  a  commission  to 
superintend  the  church,  but  was  too  prudent  to 
interfere. 

1625.  A  settlement  was  made  at  Mt.  Wollaston, 
by  unruly  men,  but  did  not  continue  long. 

A  few  persons,  from  Nantasket  settled  at  Naum- 
keag  or  Salem  ;  R.  Conant  the  chief. 

1625 — March  1.  Rev.  John  Robinson  died  in 
Holland,  at  the  age  of  50.  He  was  an  able  and 
learned  theologian,  and  a  true  protestant;  taking 
the  scriptures  as  his  sole  rule  and  guide  in  religion. 
He  had  a  collegiate  education,  and  received  the  de- 
gree of  B.  D.  He  separated  from  the  established 
English  church,  as  in  its  discipline,  government  and 
ceremonies  it  was  as  variant  from  the  primitive 
churches  as  the  Romish  church.  He  considered  it 
a  political  system  in  part,  and  as  requiring  much 
not  enjoined  by  Christ  and  his  apostles.  At  first  he 
3 


26 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


was  very  rigid,  but  became  more  mild  and  liberal 
in  later  years, 

1626.  Isaac  Allerton  was  sent  to  England,  as 
agent  to  obtain  a  loan  of  money  and  to  purchase 
goods  which  were  necessary,  and  for  trading  with 
the  Indians;  and  he  obtained  £200,  or  1000  dollars 
at  30  per  cent,  interest.  The  merchant  adventurers 
in  England  sold  their  shares  in  the  enterprize,  which 
they  held  for  moneys  advanced  in  1620,  for  begin- 
ning the  Colony  and  transporting  the  first  and  early 
emigrants  thither,  for  $1800;  which  were  taken  by 
the  leading  men  in  the  Colony,  and  a  few  of  their 
friends  in  England. 

1627.  The  Plymouth  people  and  the  Dutch  of 
Hudson  river,  or  New  Netherlands,  were  on  friendly 
terms,  and  traded  with  each  other.  During  this 
year  several  persons  in  Lincolnshire,  England, 
moved  thereto  in  some  measure  by  the  success  of  the 
Leyden  Company  at  Plymouth,  as  well  as  by  a  de- 
sire to  find  a  place  where  they  might  enjoy  their  re- 
ligious rights  without  interference  of  the  civil  power 
of  the  lordly  Bishops,  proposed  a  settlement  in  Mas- 
sachusetts, and  corresponded  with  others  in  the  west 
part  of  England  and  in  London.  The  plan  was 
prosecuted  with  zeal,  and  in  1628  they  procured  a 
patent  of  the  company  for  planting  and  governing 
New  England. 

1627.  Five  of  the  principal  men  of  Plymouth  en- 
gaged to  pay  the  debts  due  the  adventurers  in  Eng- 
land, a  few  of  the  latter  agreeing  to  assist  them. 

1627.  Plymouth  colony  form  a  friendly  inter- 
course with  the  Dutch  at  Manhattoes,  or  Hudson 
liver,  who  had  proposed  to  trade  with  them.  A 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


27 


pinnace  was  built  at  Buzzard's  bay  for  trade  with 
the  Dutch ;  and  a  building  was  put  up  there  from 
which  goods  were  carried  to  the  Dutch,  and  as  a 
place  of  deposit  for  goods  from  them.  The  settle- 
ment of  Massachusetts  was  projected  this  year  in  the 
west  of  England,  by  non-conformists,  who  had  heard 
of  the  success  of  Plymouth  colony.  The  object  was 
to  provide  a  place  where  they  might  transport  them- 
selves and  enjoy  liberty  in  religious  worship  and 
church  discipline  and  government,  as  the  scriptures 
and  not  human  creeds  required. 

1627.  The  project  for  a  colony  in  Massachusetts 
bay  originated  this  year  or  before,  in  the  west  of 
England,  by  puritans.  The  success  of  Plymouth 
colony  led  to  the  plan.  Rev.  Mr.  White  of  Dorches- 
ter (England)  was  active  in  forwarding  it.  In 
1628,  a  patent  was  obtained  of  the  Plymouth  com- 
pany in  England  ;  and  Mr.  Endicott  with  about  one 
hundred  more  were  sent  over,  who  settled  at  Salem  ; 
Higginson  with  about  three  hundred  joined  them  in 
1729:  and  in  1630  governor  Winthrop  came  over 
with  fifteen  hundred,  and  landed  at  Charlestown. 
A  few  of  those  who  came  to  Salem  in  1628,  removed 
to  Charlestown  neck  before  Winthrop  and  company 
came.  In  the  company  with  Higginson  which 
arrived  in  Salem  in  1629,  were  sixty  women  and 
maids,  and  twenty-six  children. 

1628.  This  summer,  Thomas  Morton  of  Merry 
Mount,  and  the  author  of  much  disorder  and  misrule 
among  the  Indians,  was  seized  and  sent  to  England, 
This  was  done  by  the  Government  of  Plymouth, 
and  at  the  request  of  other  small  settlements  at  Pis- 
cataqua,  Dover,   Salem,  and  Nantasket;  and  by 


28 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


Backstone  and  Thompson.  Morton  sold  fire-arms 
and  ammunition  to  the  Indians ;  and  irritated  them 
by  his  ill-treatment ;  and  they  were  led  to  take  re- 
venge on  any  of  the  English  who  had  not  injured 
them. 

162S.  Captain  John  Endicott  arrived  in  Septem- 
ber, 1628j  and  settled  at  Naumkeag,  now  Salem, 
with  one  hundred  persons.  R.  Conant  and  three 
others  were  then  there,  and  had  been  nearly  three 
years,  by  advice  of  Rev.  Mr.  White  of  Dorchester, 
in  the  west  of  England,  and  others.  The  first  houses 
were  built  of  logs  and  of  thatched  roofs. 

1628,  June.  Morton,  the  unruly  head  of  Mount 
Wollaston  company,  at  Braintree,  was  seized  by  the 
government  of  Plymouth,  with  advice  and  assist- 
ance of  Maverick,  Thompson,  and  the  few  others 
then  in  the  country.  He  was  soon  after  sent  to 
England;  not,  however,  till  the  arrival  of  Endicot 
at  Salem,  in  September,  who  visited  Mount  Wollas- 
ton to  suppress  the  disorders  there ;  and  who  joined 
in  the  measure  before  agreed  on.  Morton  was  an 
unprincipled  and  a  licentious  man,  and  did  great 
mischief  by  his  gross  immoralities  and  his  injury 
to  the  Indians.  In  a  few  years  he  returned  to  Mas- 
sachusetts; but  had  little  influence,  and  was  a  pitiful 
vagabond. 

1628-9,  The  Indians  were  friendly  to  the  En- 
glish who  came  to  Salem;  for  they  were  few  in  that 
vicinity  ;  having  been  then  recently  swept  away  by 
pestilence  ;  and  being  in  fear  of  attacks  from  a  pow- 
erful tribe  called  the  Tarratenes,  residing  to  the 
eastward  of  them.  There  were  few  also  at  and  near 
Charles  river,  where  some  of  those  settled  who 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY.  29 

landed  at  Salem.  The  Indians  at  this  place  and 
vicinity  northwest,  were  called  Abergenians ;  and 
those  south  and  west  were  called  the  Neponset  or 
Massachusetts  tribe.  All  these  were  friendly  and 
welcomed  the  English.  And  the  latter  treated  the 
natives  with  great  kindness,  purchased  their  lands, 
or  had  their  consent  to  all  which  they  took  up,  and 
allowed  the  Indians  to  occupy  such  as  they  chose. 
They  attempted,  early  and  often,  to  give  them  a 
knowledge  of  Christianity,  and  to  teach  them  the 
arts  of  civilization.  In  1629,  soon  after  the  second 
company^  arrived  at  Salem,  Mr.  Higginson  and  Mr. 
Skelton,  one  as  teacher  and  the  other  as  pastor,  were 
set  apart  for  the  services  of  religion  in  the  plantation. 
They  Irad  been  ordained  before ;  and  were  now 
only  chosen  and  separated  to  the  spiritual  care  of 
the  people  there  ;  and  it  was  the  fixed  purpose,  from 
the  first,  to  have  christian  pastors  and  teachers  in 
every  plantation  or  settlement.  The  company  in 
1629  was  not  permitted  to  sail  till  clergymen  were 
ready  to  come  with  them.  Two  others  came ;  one 
of  whom  went  to  Plymouth,  and  one  soon  returned 
to  England.  Some  of  the  church  of  Plymouth 
attended,  to  express  their  consent  and  show  their 
readiness  to  hold  christian  fellowship  with  them. 
This  church  at  Salem  was  the  second  in  New 
England;  that  at  Plymouth  being  the  first.  The 
members  of  the  latter  had  been  called  separatists  : 
and  the  former  puritans  or  non-conformists :  but 
they  became  united  in  sentiment  as  well  in  the  forms 
and  discipline  as  in  the  doctrines  of  religion.  The 
same  christian  fellowship  and  union  continued  after 
the  larger  company  settled  at  Charlestown,  Boston 
3  =^ 


30 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


and  vicinity,  in  1630  and  16*31.  A  settlement  was 
made  at  Pemaquid,  a  few  leagues  east  of  Kenne- 
bec river,  by  Aldworth  and  Elbridge,  who,  two 
years  afterwards,  obtained  a  grant  of  twelve  thou- 
sand acres,  from  the  New  England  company ; 
on  condition  that  the  settlers  should  continue  there 
at  least  three  years. 

1629.  Higginson  says  two  hundred  came  when 
he  did ;  others  have  said  there  came  three  hundred. 
He  also  says,  ^'not  one  fourth  part  of  the  land  was 
occupied  by  Indians  ;  they  had  no  settled  plans,  and 
challenged  none  for  their  possession;  "  but  it  was 
not  so  in  all  other  parts. 

1629.  Six  ships  arrived  at  Salem  in  June^  with 
about  three  hundred  passengers,  and  two  eminent 
ministers,  Higginson  and  Skelton.  Endicott  with 
about  one  hundred  persons,  had  settled  there  in 
1628.  The  vessels  in  1629  brought  cattle  and  many 
agricultural  tools  and  implements:  and  several  of 
the  people  were  artisans  and  mechanics.  There 
were  about  sixty  women  and  thirty  young  children 
in  this  company  of  1629.  A  part  of  the  company 
removed  to  Mishaum,  afterwards  Charlestown ; 
some  say  about  one  hundred.  A  few  of  those  who 
came  with  Endicott  in  1628  had  previously  settled 
and  built  there  ;  and  a  smith  by  the  name  of 
Walworth  was  found  there  in  1628.  At  this  time 
Maverick  was  at  Noddle's  Island,  (now  East  Boston,) 
and  Blackstone  had  a  house  and  garden  on'  Boston 
side,  then  called  Shawmut  by  the  natives,  and  by 
Blackstone,  Tri-mountain. 

1629 — 1630.  Several  more  of  the  Leyden  church 
came  to  Plymouth.    They  were  poor,  and  proved  a 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


31 


great  expense  to  those  already  settled  there.  Some 
of  them  complained  of  their  lot,  although  the  settlers 
were  attentive  and  generous  to  them,  according  to 
their  abilit}^  They  had  all  lost  property  by  perse- 
cutions in  England  before  they  went  to  Holland, 
and  by  frequent  removals  afterwards.  They  came 
by  the  way  of  Salem  in  the  ships  which  brought  out 
Higginson  and  Company  in  1629 ;  and  in  1630,  in 
the  fleet  which  came  to  Charlestown  and  Boston 
with  Winthrop. 

1630.  The  assistants  chosen  in  England,  in 
March,  1630,  just  before  the  company  embarked, 
consisted  of  governor  Withrnop,  Sir  Richard  Salton- 
stall,  Isaac  Johnson,  Thomas  Dudley,  John  Hum- 
phrey, Increase  Nowell,  William  Pynchon,  Simon 
Bradstreet,  W m.  Vassall,  S.  Sharp,  J.  Reed,  Edward 
Rossiter,  Adams,  and  Venn;  and  the  first  chosen  at 
Charlestown  after  they  arrived  in  Massachusetts, 
were  governor  Winthrop,  lieutenant  governor  Dud- 
ley, Endicott,  Johnson,  Nowell,  Bradstreet,  Thomas 
Sharp,  Roger  Ludlow,  of  Dorchester  company, 
Pynchon,  Wm.  Coddington  and  J.  Rossiter. 

1630.  A  patent  was  issued  by  the  New  England 
company  to  governor  Bradford  and  associates,  for 
the  colony  of  Plymouth.  One  had  been  issued  before 
in  the  name  of  John  Pierce.  This  year  a  large 
company  arrived  from  England,  (about  fifteen  hun- 
dred,) and  settled  at  Salem,  Charlestown,  Water- 
town,  Dorchester,  Boston,  Cambridge  and  Roxbury. 
They  were  puritans  also ;  and  the  enjoyment  of 
more  scriptural  forms  of  worship  and  church  gov- 
ernment was  the  principal  object  or  purpose  of  their 
removing.    Many  of  them  had  large  estates,  particu- 


32 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


lar!y  Wiothrop,  Johnson  and  Nowell.  The  enter- 
prise was  expensive  as  well  as  hazardous.  They 
hired  twelve  or  thirteen  large  ships  for  the  sole 
purpose  of  transporting  their  familieSj  servants, 
goods,  farniture,  provisions  and  cattle ;  most  of 
them  from  three  hundred  to  four  hundred  tons  ;  some 
brought  two  hundred,  some  one  hundred  and  fifty, 
one  hundred  and  twenty,  and  one  hundred  passen- 
gers. A  private  vessel  brought  a  few ;  one,  which 
preceded  by  a  month,  had  a  few  also:  one  by  way 
of  Plymouth,  and  one  which  arrived  in  August  had 
some  passengers  to  settle  in  Massachusetts.  Few  or 
none  died  on  the  passage ;  but  many  died  v/ithin  a 
few  months  after  they  arrived.  The  principal  men 
among  them  were  governor  John  Winthrop,  Thomas 
Dudley,  Sir  Richard  Saltonstall,  Isaac  Johnson, 
Simon  Bradstreet,  increase  Nowell,  Roger  Ludlow, 
Isaac  Rossiter,  Israel  Stoughton,  Rev.  Messrs.  Wil- 
son, Phillips,  Maverick,  and  Warham.  Soon  after 
the  arrival  of  the  ships  in  June  and  July,  settlements 
were  made  at  Watertown,  Dorchester,  Boston,  Rox- 
bury  and  Cambridge  ;  sometime  called  the  Newioion, 
Though  the  settlement  of  the  new  town  was  probably 
not  till  early  in  1631  ;  and  the  Dorchester  people  pre- 
ceded the  others  at  Charlestown,  &c.  by  a  few 
weeks;  and  coming  from  a  different  part  of  England 
were  in  some  measure  distinct  from  the  others ;  but 
soon  united  in  all  civil  affairs,  and  were  of  the  same 
mind  as  to  religious  forms  and  discipline.  There 
were  a  few  settlers  then  at  that  place.  In  July,  a 
church  was  formed  at  Charlestown,  and  Mr.  Wilson 
chosen  and  separated  as  the  pastor,  by  solemn 
prayer.    Mr.  Johnson  began  to  build  on  the  south 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


33 


side  of  the  river  in  September ;  but  died  in  a  few 
weeks;  his  wife,  the  excellent  lady  Arbella,  of  a 
noble  family,  died  some  weeks  before.  He  was  one 
of  the  richest  of  the  company;  and  his  death  was 
lamented  as  a  great  loss  to  the  plantation,  as  well 
as  for  his  piety  and  moral  worth.  Many  others 
removed  to  Boston  in  September  and  October,  so 
that  most  of  the  church  and  congregation  of  Charles- 
town  had  taken  up  their  residence  there ;  and  pub- 
lic worship  was  therefore  then  attended  by  the  peo- 
ple of  both  these  towns.  The  first  church  of  Boston, 
therefore,  is  the  third  or  fourth  in  New  England.  If 
Dorchester  may  justly  be  allowed  the  third,  as  it  was 
formed  in  England  before  they  sailed  for  Massachu- 
setts, then  the  Boston  church  was  the  fourth. 
Watertown,  where  Sir  Richard  Saltonstall  and  Rev. 
Mr.  Phillips  and  others  settled,  may  be  considered 
the  fifth.  Roxbury,  which  was  also  settled  in  1630, 
and  in  1631  had  Rev.  John  Eliot  for  their  minister, 
was  the  sixth;  and  Lynn  the  seventh,  being  settled 
in  1632  ;  Charlestown  the  eighth,  when  it  became  a 
distinct  church  from  Boston,  and  had  Mr.  James  for 
their  minister.  Then  next  follow  Duxbury,  Hing- 
ham,  Ipswich,  Newbury,  Weymouth,  Braintree, 
Concord  and  Dedham.  In  the  meantime,  viz.  in 
1635  and  '36,  a  part  of  the  church  of  Dorches- 
ter removed  to  Windsor  on  Connecticut  river ;  that 
in  Cambridge  to  Hartford  ;  and  a  new  church  formed 
under  Mr.  Shepard.  A  part  of  the  inhabitants  of 
Watertown  also  removed  and  settled  Weathersfield, 
on  Connecticut  river  near  Hartford.  The  first  object 
with  these  religious  men  was  to  provide  for  the 
religious  instruction  of  their  children  and  the  worship 


34 


NEW   ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


of  Godj  according  to  the  forms  of  the  primitive 
churches,  as  stated  in  the  New  Testament. 

The  number  of  ships  bringing  the  company  has 
been  usually  said  to  be  seventeen ;  but  one  of  the 
number  was  Capt.  Pierce  in  the  Lion,  who  came 
before  the  others,  and  had  few  passengers  ;  one  was 
the  ship  with  the  Dorchester  people,  one  did  not 
arrive  till  August;  and  one  was  a  private  vessel 
which  transported  only  a  small  number.  Some  of 
these  ships  were  four  hundred  tons  and  brought  two 
hundred  people.  Several  others  were  over  three 
hundred  tons,  and  brought  one  hundred  and  fifty 
and  one  hundred  and  twenty.  The  whole  number 
of  these,  with  those  who  came  in  1628  and  1629, 
made  about  two  thousand  one  hundred  in  Massa- 
chusetts. The  first  court,  composed  of  the  governor 
and  assistants,  was  held  in  August,  on  board  the 
Arbella  :  when  the  first  subject  considered  was  to 
provide  for  the  support  of  the  ministers.  In  Septem- 
ber the  second  court  was  holden  at  Charlestown. 
September  28,  another  court  was  also  held  in 
Charlestown.  October  19th  :  the  first  general  court 
was  held  in  Boston,  consisting  of  all  the  company. 

At  this  time  one  hundred  and  six  make  known 
their  desire  to  become  freemen,  and  to  take  the  oath 
required  :  but  some  of  them  were  not  admitted  till 
May  1631.  All  the  courts  were  held  in  Boston  after 
this. 

In  1630,  Gorges  says  they  who  obtained  the 
patent  for  Massachusetts  were  more  discreet  than 
most  others  who  seceded  from  the  church  of  England  ; 
yet  they  desired  to  escape  or  avoid  what  they  were 
subject  to  in  their  native  country.    He  says  the 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


35 


restraint  on  emigrations  in  1641  and  2,  was  because 
of  divers  sects  and  schisms  in  New  England,  all 
contemning  the  government  of  the  ecclesiastical  state  ; 
and  it  was  found  that  they  would  soon  wholly  shake 
off  the  royal  jurisdiction  of  the  sovereign  magis- 
trate." 

Gorges  says  when  the  coasts  of  Virginia  were  dis- 
covered, it  was  populous,  the  people  stout  and  war- 
hke,  plenty  of  grain  and  other  fruits,  and  deer  and 
other  animals  for  food,  with  plenty  of  fish  and  fowl, 
for  support. 

Before  the  Massachusetts  company  left  England, 
they  addressed  a  letter  to  their  christian  brethren 
and  friends  of  the  episcopal  church,  not  exclusively 
nor  particularly  the  bishops  or  clergy ;  asking  their 
prayers  and  supplications.  They  expressed  their 
grateful  sense  of  the  benefits  derived  from  the 
religious  instructions  of  the  English  clergy,  and 
their  christian  friendship  and  regard  for  many  left 
behind.  But  this  was  not  an  approval  of  the  forms 
and  ceremonies  of  the  episcopal  church,  as  some 
have  supposed.  At  the  first  meeting  of  the  court  of 
governor  and  assistants  in  the  colony,  an  order  was 
passed  for  the  pecuniary  support  of  Mr.  Wilson  and 
Mr.  Phillips.  In  1629,  an  order  was  passed  by  the 
company  there,  to  provide  a  proper  support  for  Mr. 
Higginson  and  Mr.  Skelton  who  came  to  Salem  in 
that  year.  The  church  and  people  of  Dorchester 
also  made  provision  for  the  maintenance  of  Mr. 
Maverick  and  Mr.  Warham,  their  ministers,  soon 
after  their  arrival  in  1630.  In  October,  1630,  Boston 
contained  more  people  than  Charlestown.  Johnson 
began  to  build  there  in  September,  but  died  soon 


36 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


after.  Winthrop  was  there  in  October.  Tbe  place 
of  public  worship  was  there  for  both  settlements; 
and  the  tax  of  Boston  was  larger  than  that  of  Charles- 
town. 

When  Winthrop  and  company  settled  at  Charles- 
town  and  Boston,  there  were  temporary  settlements 
by  the  French  at  St.  Croix,  Mount  Desert  and  Port- 
royal  ;  by  the  English  at  Kennebec,  Saco,  Plymouth, 
Piscataqua,  Dover,  Cape  Ann,  Nantasket,  Thomp- 
son's Island,  Noddle's  Island,  Weymouth,  Mount 
Wollaston,  Salem  and  Charlestown. 

About  1630.  When  the  Plymouth  and  Massachu- 
setts colonies  were  formed,  one  in  1620,  and  the 
other  in  1829-30,  it  was  a  time  of  general  despotism 
both  in  church  and  state,  in  Europe.  To  the  courage, 
patience  and  wisdom  of  those  who  settled  these 
colonies,  in  the  wilds  of  North  America,  we  are 
indebted  for  our  present  goodly  heritage,  our  fruitful 
fields,  our  populous  towns,  our  churches,  schools, 
wholesome  laws,  designed  to  preserve  our  liberties, 
for  our  seminaries  of  science,  and  a  learned  clergy. 

1630.  The  first  and  early  settlers  of  Massachu- 
setts colony,  as  well  as  of  Plymouth,  were  led  to 
emigrate  to  America  chiefly  from  religious  consid- 
erations. They  were  sincere  and  experimental 
christians.  And  their  religious  faith  animated  and 
supported  them  in  all  their  trials  and  sufferings. 
Those  who  settled  in  Connecticut  at  Hartford  and 
vicinity,  and  at  New  Haven,  were  of  a  similar 
character,  men  of  ardent  piety,  and  generally  free 
from  fanaticism  and  extravagant  theories.  A  few, 
indeed,  might  be  so,  characterised  ;  but  they  were 
not  the  leaders.    Other  colonies  and  plantations  were 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


37 


chiefly  for  trade.  There  was  far  more  of  stabiUty 
and  order  in  the  former  colonies  than  in  the  latter  ; 
and  the  men  employed  merely  for  trade,  being  hired 
by  others  who  resided  in  England,  and  not  owners 
of  the  soil,  were  seldom  found  faithful  to  the  proprie- 
tors. The  first  object  of  the  settlers  of  Plymouth, 
Massachusetts  and  Connecticut,  was  to  provide  for 
public  worship  and. for  religious  teachers;  and  the 
next  was  to  support  the  cause  of  learning;  when 
they  had  scarcely  erected  houses  for  their  own  per- 
sonal comfort. 

It  was  first  proposed  to  fortify  Cambridge,  then 
called  the  new  town,  and  to  make  it  the  capital  of 
the  colony.  But  the  majority  preferred  Boston  ;  and 
Isaac  Johnson,  the  richest  man  of  the  company, 
removed  to  Boston  in  September,  and  began  there  to 
build ;  but  died  the  last  of  that  month.  Others, 
however,  chose  to  settle  on  that  peninsula ;  and  in 
October  the  people  there  were  more  numerous  than 
■in  Charlestown. 

Isaac  Allerton  and  Thomas  Willet  of  Plymouth, 
were  merchants  or  traders.  The  latter  lived  some 
time  at  New  York,  and  was  the  first  mayor  of  the 
city  in  1665,  when  the  Dutch  surrendered  it  to  the 
English.  Hatherly  and  Vassall  of  Plymouth  colony, 
were  also  traders.  In  Massachusetts,  Humphrey, 
and  Gibbons,  were  merchants,  and  engaged  in  navi- 
gation;  Gibbons  was  a  very  enterprising  character. 
He  lost  large  sums  by  trade  with  the  French  in 
Acadia.  And  Humphrey  impoverished  his  family  by 
unfortunate  trade  at  the  West  Indies.  Maverick,  who 
was  settled  at  Noddle's  Island,  when  the  large  com- 
pany came  with  Winthrop,  1630,  was  a  trader.  He 
4 


38 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


owned  a  small  vessel,  and  made  voyages  to  the 
West  India  islands ;  and  was  sometimes  concerned 
with  Gibbons,  who  early  resided  at  Winnessimett. 
Maverick  was  an  episcopalian,  and  did  not  agree 
with  the  puritans  in  religion* 

In  October,  the  number  of  people  on  Boston  pen- 
insula was  greater  than  in  Charlestown  ;  and  Bos- 
ton was  the  place  of  public  worship  for  the  people 
on  both  sides  of  the  river,  for  nearly  two  years.  It 
was  the  same  church  which  was  formed  at  Charles- 
town  in  August ;  and  therefore  was  the  third ; 
rather,  perhaps,  the  fourth  according  to  dates.  The 
Plymouth  church  being  the  first,  Salem  the  second ; 
Dorchester,  which  was  formed  in  England  in  the 
month  of  March,  and  arrived  a  short  time  before  the 
people,  with  Winthrop  and  Wilson,  settled  Charles- 
town,  may  be  justly  considered  the  third;  Charles- 
town,  or  Boston,  under  Wilson,  the  fourth ;  Water- 
town  under  Phillips  and  Saltonstall,  the  fifth; 
Roxbury  the  sixth,  under  Pynchon  and  Eliot  (or 
Weld).  The  new  town,  or  Cambridge,  was  the 
seventh  ;  Charlestown,  under  Mr.  James,  the  eighth ; 
Lynn,  or  Saugus,  the  ninth ;  Ipswich  the  tenth ; 
Newbury  the  eleventh.  Then  soon  follow  Duxbury, 
in  1633,  Plymouth  colony,  Hingham,  Weymouth, 
Concord,  Braintree,  Dedham,  Scituate,  Weathers- 
field,  Windsor,  Hartford,  New  Haven. 

1630.  Some  of  the  Massachusetts  company  were 
from  the  wett  part  of  England,  but  most  of  them 
from  the  vicinity  of  London.  Several  persons  in 
the  ship  Talbot  died  on  the  passage  with  small  pox. 
Masconomo,  Sachem  of  Agawam,  near  Salem,  went 
on  board  of  the  Arbella  and  gave  a  welcome  to  Gov- 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


39 


ernor  Wintbrop  and  the  Company  with  him.  But 
they  soon  visited  Charlestown,  where  were  some  of 
the  Salem  Company  settled  in  1629,  and  they  chose 
to  settle  there :  some  of  them  soon  removed  to  Cam- 
bridge, Watertown  and  to  Boston. 

1630.  The  first  Court  of  Assistants  was  held  in 
August,  on  board  the  Arbella,  the  ship  in  which  the 
Governor  came.  The  second  Court  was  Septem- 
ber 28.  In  October,  a  General  Court  was  held  in 
Boston,  which  seems  to  prove  that  the  greater  part 
of  the  Company  had  moved  there,  or  the  meeting 
there  might  be  for  the  accommodation  of  the  people 
at  Roxbury  and  Dorchester,  where  settlements  were 
early  made.  The  people  of  Dorchester  arrived  a 
few  weeks  before  Wintbrop ;  they  had  been  formed 
into  a  church  in  England ;  and  they  were  from  the 
West  of  England.  Many  of  them  were  merchants. 
Selectmen  chosen  in  Dorchester  in  1633,  and  the  first 
mill  built  in  Massachusetts  was  at  Dorchester  in  1633. 
At  this  first  General  Court,  it  was  agreed  that  all  the 
Freemen  should  vote  for  the  assistants,  and  that  the 
assistants  should  chose  the  Governor  and  Deputy 
Governor,  from  the  board  of  assistants ;  and  that  all 
laws  and  orders  for  the  government  of  the  people  in 
the  colony  should  be  framed  by  them.  In  1632  and 
again  in  1633,  alterations  were  made  as  to  these 
elections  ;  and  the  Governor  was  elected  by  the  votes 
of  the  General  Court,  or  the  body  of  Freemen  who 
should  assemble  and  vote.  During  this  year  was 
the  first  execution  in  Plymouth  Colony  for  murder, 
by  one  Billington  ;  a  very  profane  and  disorderly 
person  ;  not  one  of  the  Leyden  Company ;  but  one 
who  got  on  board  of  the  Mayflower  in  England, 


40 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHItONOLOGY. 


without  the  knowledge  of  the  company.  In  October 
the  ship  Handmaid  arrived  at  Plymouth  with  cattle 
for  Massachusetts,  among  which  were  several  cows  j 
but  some  of  them  died  on  the  passage. 

1631.  A  ship  arrived  at  Boston  in  February  with 
provisions  from  Bristol,  which  had  been  sent  for  that 
purpose,  the  summer  before.  The  arrival  was  very 
seasonable  ;  for  there  was  little  bread  or  food  of  any 
kind  then  remaining  in  the  plantation.  Many  families 
were  entirely  destitute,  except  some  small  and  ordi- 
nary fish.  And  yet  they  had  sent  to  the  Vineyard  and 
other  places  south  of  Cape  Cod  in  October,  (1630,) 
and  purchased  large  quantities  of  corn,  of  the  natives. 
A  few  were  added  to  the  Colony  this  year,  though 
not  so  many  as  came  over  in  1630.  Rev.  Mr.  Eliot 
of  Roxbury  came  this  year. 

1631.  A  watch  of  four  men  was  kept  most  of  the 
time,  especially  at  night,  at  Dorchester,  and  also  at 
Watertown.  These  were  then  the  most  exposed 
settlements. 

Several  servants  were  made  free  by  their  masters, 
in  Massachusetts,  though  their  time  of  service  had 
not  expired ;  as  it  was  found  difficult  to  support 
them;  and  it  was  believed  that  they  would  make 
proper  efforts  to  maintain  themselves  if  set  free. 
The  most  of  them  became  useful  and  respected  citi- 
zens. 

1632.  The  use  of  tobacco  was  forbidden;  and  so 
was  the  habit  of  drinking  of  health,  at  the  particu- 
lar desire  and  by  the  example  of  Governor  Winthrop, 
who  discontinued  it. 

1632.  A  tax  laid  by  Governor  and  Assistants  for 
building  a  fort  at  Cambridge,  was  objected  to  by  the 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


41 


freemen  of  Watertown,  because  the  whole  people 
had  not  a  voice  in  the  measure,  when  it  was  ordered 
that  two  freemen  of  each  settlement  should  be  elected 
as  a  Committee  to  join  with  the  Governor  and  Assist- 
ants to  lay  taxes,  and  make  orders,  &c.,  and  not  re- 
quire all  the  freemen  to  attend  the  General  Court. — 
But  in  the  choice  of  Governor,  Deputy  Governor, 
Assistants,  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  all  the  freemen 
were  to  vote ;  and  in  1634  the  town  chose  two  or 
three  deputies ;  and  this  was  the  origin  of  the  House 
of  Representatives,  which,  with  the  Governor  and 
Assistants,  composed  the  Legislature. 

1632.  Complaints  were  made  by  a  few  discon- 
tented persons,  to  the  king  and  his  ministry  in  Eng- 
land, against  the  rulers  and  clergy  in  Massachusetts, 
that  they  were  wholly  opposed  to  the  episcopal 
church,  as  established  in  Great  Britain,  and  would  not 
even  tolerate  the  use  of  religious  forms  as  required 
by  the  English  churches.  But  they  did  not  succeed 
in  their  object  of  obtaining  an  edict  against  the 
puritans  in  the  colony;  and  the  king  and  his  council 
dismissed  the  complaint  as  unreasonable.  From  the 
first  settlement  of  the  colony  there  were  enemies  to 
its  stability  and  prosperity  both  in  this  country  and 
in  England.  The  greater  number  of  those  who 
opposed  its  increase  were  unwilling  the  puritans 
should  have  authority  in  any  place  over  other  sects  ; 
some  wished  to  suppress  them  entirely,  and  to 
require  their  conformity  in  America  as  well  as  in 
England. 

October.     Governor   Winthrop   and    Rev.  Mr. 
Wilson  of  Boston,  visited  Plymouth.    They  went 
in  a  boat  to  Wessagusset.  (Weymouth,)  and  then 
4  =^ 


42 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


walked  to  that  place ;  having  only  an  Indian  path 
to  go  in.  They  passed  over  North  river,  between 
Scituate  and  Marshfield  ;  or  probably  higher  up  the 
river,  from  Hanover  to  Pembroke.  They  passed 
the  Lord's  day  in  Plymouth,  and  addressed  the 
people,  after  the  usual  services  were  over.  They 
left  Plymouth  on  Monday  morning  before  the  dawn 
of  day,  and  were  accompanied  several  miles  by 
Governor  Bradford,  Capt.  Standish,  and  others. 

In  1632.  In  May,  a  ship  from  Virginia  brought 
two  thousand  bushels  of  corn  to  Boston.  It  was 
quite  acceptable ;  but  drained  the  people  of  their 
cash.  This  year  a  committee  of  two  from  each 
town  or  settlement  was  chosen  to  join  with  the  gov- 
ernor and  board  of  assistants,  hi  assessing  and 
apportioning  taxes  ;  and  this  was  the  origin  or 
occasion  of  choosing  deputies  from  each  town;  the 
next  year  and  following  years,  to  unite  with  the 
governor  and  assistants  in  making  the  laws,  instead 
of  having  the  whole  body  of  freemen  assembling  in 
one  place  for  the  purpose,  or  allowing  the  governor 
and  assistants  to  make  the  laws  ;  the  latter  still  were 
entrusted  with  the  execution  of  the  laws,  and  acted 
also  as  a  superior  coart  of  jadicature. 

According  to  a  tax  now  assessed,  Boston  and 
Watertown  were  the  richest  towns;  Charlestown^ 
Dorchester  and  Roxbury,  next;  Lynn,  including 
Marble  harbor,  next;  then  Weymouth,  Newtown  or 
Cambridge,  and  Medford. 

From  the  forming  of  a  church  in  Charlestown, 
July  30,  1630,  to  October  lOih,  one  hundred  and 
fifty  members  were  added.  This  is  the  first  church 
of  Boston. 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


43 


June  13th.  A  day  of  thanksgiving  was  kept  in 
all  the  towns  and  plantations  by  public  authority, 
for  the  success  of  the  protestants  in  Europe,  against 
the  Emperor  of  Germany  ;  and  for  the  safe  arrival 
of  all  the  sliips  expected  from  England. 

1632  or  ]633.  The  clergy  were  men  of  great 
learning,  and  had  received  a  public  education  in  one 
of -the  universities  at  Cambridge  or  Oxford,  in 
England.  Several  of  the  laity  were  also  learned 
men;  as  Winthrop,  Haynes,  Bellingham,  Bradstreet, 
Nowell,  and  Ludlow. 

1633.  Several  eminent  men  arrived  to  settle  in 
the  colony.  John  Haynes,  who  was  one  year  gov- 
ernor, 1635,  and  then  he  removed  to  Hartford  ;  Rev. 
Mr.  Cotton,  who  was  settled  as  a  colleague  to  Mr. 
Wilson;  Messrs.  Hooker  and  Stone,  who  resided 
two  years  at  Cambridge,  and  then  removed  to  Hart- 
ford, 

The  people  of  Plymouth  visited  Connecticut  river 
in  1633,  near  Hartford  and  Windsor,  and  claimed 
the  country  as  being  within  their  patent.  The 
Dutch  also  laid  claim  to  it ;  and  there  was  danger 
of  an  hostile  collision,  but  the  dispute  was  soon 
settled;  when  the  people  of  Massachusetts  removed 
there,  the  Plymouth  government  objected,  but  after- 
wards consented,  on  promising  some  allowance  for 
the  expenses  they  had  incurred  there. 

1633-4.,  Archbishop  Laud  and  other  high  church- 
men continued  their  plans  of  oppressing  the  puritans 
in  New  England,  but  were  prevented  by  the  state  of 
public  affairs  in  England,  from  carrying  their  evil 
purposes  into  effect. 

A  fort  built  this  year  on  Castle  Island  in  Boston 
harbor. 


44 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


1634.  The  deputies  or  representatives  of  the  free- 
men met  for  public  business,  instead  of  the  whole 
body  of  the  people.  In  1632,  a  committee  of  two 
from  every  tov/n  was  elected  to  assess  a  tax.  This 
probably  led  to  the  plan  of  having  a  house  of  repre- 
sentatives to  join  with  the  governor,  deputy  gov- 
ernor and  board  of  assistants,  (who  had  been  the 
two  first  years  the  law-makers,)  in  passing  acts, 
orders,  &c.  At  first  the  assistants  chose  the  gov- 
ernor and  lieutenant  governor :  the  freemen  now 
voted  for  them,  and  the  representatives  had  a  voice 
in  making  the  laws.  The  deputies  first  met  with 
the  board  of  assistants,  but  after  a  few  years  the 
representatives  and  assistants  sat  in  separate  rooms. 
Winthrop  was  elected  governor  for  the  three  first 
years  successively,  after  the  arrival  of  the  large  com- 
pany in  1630  ;  and  was  chosen  governor  of  the  com- 
pany before  they  left  England.  In  1634,  Dudley 
was  chosen  governor,  and  Haynes  in  1635.  An 
attempt  was  made  in  1634,  chiefly  by  the  high- 
church  party,  to  deprive  Massachusetts  of  its  charter, 
and  to  divide  the  whole  of  New  England  into  lord- 
ships, and  to  direct  in  all  ecclesiastical  concerns; 
but  it  failed.  Archbishop  Laud  who  originated  and 
urged  the  plan,  fell  into  disgrace.  In  the  latter  part 
of  the  year  1635,  Roger  Williams  was  banished  the 
colony  for  disorganizing  conduct  both  in  church  and 
state.  He  was  not  one  of  the  original  company; 
nor  was  he  invited  to  come  into  the  colony.  He 
arrived  in  1631  ;  and  soon  broached  disorganizing 
opinions,  opposing  the  measures  of  the  civil  rulers 
and  of  the  clergy.  He  was  conceited,  eccentric, 
obstinate,  and  denied  and  opposed  the  powers  of  the 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


45 


government  in  various  ways.  Had  his  views  pre- 
vailed, had  he  remained  spreading  his  anti-social 
opinions  and  tenets  of  insubordination,  the  colony 
would  have  become  greatly  unsettled  and  divided: 
and  it  was  thought  necessary  for  the  general  peace 
and  welfare  that  he  should  leave  the  colony,  where 
indeed  he  had  no  just  claim  to  continue.  There 
was,  perhaps,  some  severity  exercised  towards  him ; 
but  self-defence  and  the  welfare  of  the  colony  justi- 
fied the  act  of  his  banishment. 

1635.  Roger  Williams  was  ordered  to  leave  Mas- 
sachusetts, for  his  wild  notions,  and  open  overt  acts 
of  opposition  to  the  civil  government.  He  came  over 
in  the  early  part  of  1631 ;  but  was  not  one  of  the 
Company.  He  soon  vented  opinions  against  the 
Church,  and  the  government;  and  continued  his  op- 
position though  often  admonished  to  desist.  He  con- 
demned most  of  the  measures  adopted  by  the  govern- 
ment, and  created  much  disorder  and  confusion. — 
And  was  ordered  to  depart  the  Colony  in  December 
1635.  He  was  much  wanting  in  prudence  and  judg- 
ment, and  shared  an  obstinate  and  insubordinate 
spirit. 

A  very  severe  storm  August  15.  The  tide  was 
higher  by  twenty  feet  than  had  been  remembered. 
The  Indians  said  they  did  not  recollect  the  like 
before. 

Efforts  were  made  to  deprive  Massachusetts  of  its 
charter.  The  high  church  party  was  engaged  in 
this  plan,  and  Sir  F.  Gorges  and  Mason,  who  had 
grants  between  Salem  and  Kennebec,  joined  in  it ; 
for  they  were  attached  to  episcopal  forms  and 
government  in  the  church,  and  the  former  aimed  to 


46 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


be  governor  general  of  all  New  England  or  North 
Virginia. 

Eleven  learned  ministers  arrived  in  this  year; 
and  many  before  that  period.  Ninety  ministers  came 
over  to  Massachusetts,  Plymouth  and  Connecticut, 
in  ten  years,  from  1629  to  1639. 

The  people  of  Dorchester  purchased  their  lands 
of  the  Indians.  The  town  was  very  extensive  at 
first,  and  for  many  years,  reaching  to  the  southern 
bounds  of  Massachusetts.  They  set  off,  for  the 
special  and  sole  use  of  the  Indians,  within  their 
limits,  six  thousand  acres,  and  a  large  tract  early 
reserved  for  the  support  of  a  common  school. 

The  plan  of  a  general  government  for  New 
England  was  again  proposed  by  a  son  of  Sir  F. 
Gorges.  It  was  part  of  the  plan  to  have  the  churches 
under  the  discipline  and  form  of  episcopacy.  The 
puritans  and  their  friends  and  agents  prevented  its 
execution. 

Weathersfield  and  Windsor  were  settled  ;  and 
New  Haven  in  1637. 

Great  exertions  were  made  by  archbishop  Laud 
and  others  to  oppress  and  crush  the  puritans  and  non- 
conformists, both  in  England  and  in  Massachusetts. 

1636.  Sir  Henry  Vane,  who  came  into  the 
colony  in  1635,  was  chosen  governor.  He  was 
wanting  in  judgment ;  he  opposed  governor  Win- 
throp,  a  very  prudent,  upright  and  pious  character, 
and  he  encouraged  the  most  fanatical  persons  in  the 
colony.  He  was  then  quite  a  young  man,  about 
twenty-five  ;  and  the  next  year  Winthrop  was  chosen 
governor.  Sir  Henry  then  returned  to  England ; 
not  without  being  the  occasion  of  great  disputes  and 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


47 


divisions  among  the  people.  He  favored  the  fanati- 
cal individuals  who  censured  Rev.  Mr.  Wilson  and 
others,  all  but  Mr.  Cotton,  as  being  legal  preachers  ; 
which  caused  much  bitterness  and  angry  disputa- 
tion for  several  years. 

1636.  A  school  was  opened  at  Cambridge  for 
teaching  the  learned  languages,  and  the  general 
court  granted  £400  to  it.  In  1638,  Rev.  Mr. 
Harvard  of  Charlestown,  who  came  into  the  country 
the  year  before,  left  a  legacy  of  about  £800  to  the 
seminary,  which  was  afterwards  called  Harvard 
College.  The  master  of  the  school  was  a  defective 
character ;  and  in  1640  Rev.  Mr.  Dunster,  a  very 
learned  man,  was  chosen  President;  and  in  1642, 
six  young  men  there  educated,  received  their 
first  degree,  and  are  at  the  head  of  the  list  of  five 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  fifty  alumni  of  this 
ancient  and  honored  university.  Rev.  Mr.  Shepard 
arrived  in  1635,  and  on  the  removal  of  Hooker  and 
Stone  to  Hartford,  settled  at  Cambridge  in  1636. 

The  antinomian  heresy  prevailed  to  some  extent 
in  Massachusetts.  Ann  Hutchinson  was  very  active 
in  spreading  the  doctrine ;  and  Rev.  Mr.  Cotton, 
who  was  unguarded  in  his  expressions  to  magnify 
the  grace  of  God,  was  accused  of  favoring  the 
opinion.  The  other  ministers  were  called  legal 
preachers,  though  highly  evangelical.  Their  tenets 
were  condemned  as  dangerous  and  tending  to  licen- 
tiousness. Mrs.  Hutchinson  and  her  brother.  Rev. 
Mr.  Wheelwright,  were  banished  from  the  colony ; 
and  several  of  their  followers,  being  censured  for 
their  errors,  left  Massachusetts  and  settled  in  Rhode 
Island.    Some  were  afterwards  convinced  that  their 


48 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


opinions  were  unscriptural,  and  publicly  recanted. 
Governor  Winthrop,  lieutenant  governor  Dudley, 
Rev.  Mr.  Wilson,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Bulkley,  had  great 
influence  in  suppressing  the  error. 

A  vessel  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  tons  was 
built  at  Marble  harbor,  near  Salem. 

Within  six  years  from  the  arrival  at  Boston, 
many  removed  to  Connecticut  river,  and  settled 
Weathersfield,  Hartford  and  Windsor.  They  went 
chiefly  from  Dorchester,  Cambridge  and  Watertown. 

A  school  or  college  was  now  founded  at  Cambridge. 
The  first  settlers  thus  shew  their  sense  of  the  import- 
ance of  human  learning.  Many  of  those  who  first 
came  to  Massachusetts  had  received  a  collegiate 
education. 

Capt.  Endicott  was  sent  against  the  Pequot  tribe 
of  Indians,  near  New  London,  in  Connecticut,  who 
had  killed  some  of  the  English  in  that  quarter ;  but 
he  did  not  have  any  very  serious  battle  with  them. 

In  1636  and  '37,  the  Pequot  tribe  of  Indians, 
living  on  and  near  Connecticut  river,  became  openly 
hostile  to  the  English,  and  killed  several  of  them 
who  were  in  that  part  of  the  country  for  trade. 
Capt.  Endicott  was  sent  with  a  company  of  men, 
in  1636,  to  chastise  them  and  to  aflbrd  protection  to 
the  few  English  families  in  that  quarter.  But  the 
Indians  denied  having  committed  the  murders 
charged  on  them,  and  said  they  were  perpetrated  by 
other  tribes.  The  Pequots  continued  their  depreda- 
tions ;  and  in  1637  it  was  agreed  to  send  troops 
against  them  from  Massachusetts,  Plymouth  and 
Hartford  and  vicinity.  A  company  went  against 
them  from  Hartford  under  command  of  Capt.  John 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOar. 


49 


Mason ;  who,  in  a  most  wonderful  manner  killed 
and  routed  a  large  number  of  them,  before  the  men 
from  the  other  colonies  came  up.  He  attacked 
them  near  New  London,  on  the  east  side  of  the  riv^er 
Thames,  and  surprised  them,  and  thus  was  success- 
ful and  victorious  in  his  bold  enterprize. 

1636.  1640.  Religious  disputes  on  speculative 
points  ;  some  were  very  visionary  and  extravagant. 
The  civil  authorities  interposed  in  some  cases ;  as 
they  said  for  the  purpose  of  maintaining  the  peace 
and  order  of  the  churches  and  of  the  government. 
Individuals  among  the  fanatics  were  very  unjustifia- 
ble in  their  conduct ;  and  the  government,  perhaps, 
treated  them  with  unnecessary  severity. 

1637.  Rev.  John  Wheelwright  banished  from 
Massachusetts  for  a  seditious  sermon. 

Rhode  Island  bought  of  Narragansett  tribe  by  Mr, 
•Coddington  of  Boston. 

There  was  an  earthquake  in  New  England  this 
year,  in  the  month  of  June. 

1638.  Three  Englishmen  executed  for  the  mur- 
der of  an  Indian. 

W.  Coddington  and  others  left  Boston  and  settled 
on  Rhode  Island.  They  were  of  the  antinomian 
party  who  were  banished. 

1638.  New  Haven  was  settled  by  Eaton, 
Hopkins  and  Rev.  Mr.  Davenport.  At  this  period, 
the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts  expressed  their 
views  of  charter  and  natural  rights.  They  were  of 
opinion  "that  their  Commonwealth  was  established 
by  free  consent ;  that  the  territory  was  their  own; 
that  a  man  iiad  no  right  to  enter  their  society  or  settle 
within  their  jurisdiction  without  their  permission  ; 
5 


50 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


that  they  had  the  full  and  absolute  power  of  govern- 
ing all  persons  by  their  representatives,  and  accord- 
ing to  such  laws  as  they  should  see  fit  to  make,  not 
repugnant  to  the  constitution  or  fundamental  princi- 
ples of  the  constitution  of  England."  Rhode  Island 
was  settled  at  this  time,  by  people  from  Boston  and 
vicinity.  They  removed  chiefly  for  rehgious 
opinions. 

During  this  year  the  king  confirmed  the  patent  of 
Sir  F.  Gorges  to  the  country  from  Piscataqua  to 
Sagadahock,  or  Kennebec  :  and  constituted  him 
lord  palatine  of  it.  Exeter  was  settled,  and  acted 
as  a  distinct  government  for  three  years.  Rowley, 
Salisbury,  and  Sudbury  were  now  settled  ;  and  also 
Barnstable  and  Yarmouth  in  Plymouth  colony. 
Duxbury,  Scituate  and  Marshfield,  were  settled 
before.  Sumptuary  laws  were  enacted  at  this  time, 
to  prevent  excess  in  apparel  and  other  unnecessary 
expenses  of  living. 

Josselyn  says  there  were  twenty  houses  in  Boston. 
Salem,  Roxbury,  Charlestown,  Dorchester,  Water- 
town,  Cambridge,  Lynn,  and  other  towns  were  then 
settled,  and  the  number  of  inhabitants  nearly  sixteen 
thousand.  The  same  writer  mentions  that  a  large 
sea  serpent  was  seen  this  year  near  Cape  Ann. 

1639.  First  printing-press  in  the  colony  set  up  at 
Cambridge  ;  owned  by  Mrs.  Glover,  whose  husband 
died  on  his  passage,  or  in  England  after  he  had 
determined  to  move  to  America.  One  of  the  first 
things  printed  was  an  almanac. 

A  military  muster  of  one  thousand  men,  the 
colony  then  consisting  of  ten  thousand  or  twelve 
thousand  inhabitants.    They  then  made  two  regi- 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


51 


ments  under  command  of  governor  Winthrop  and 
lieutenant  governor  Dudley.  This  or  the  preceding 
year  the  artillery  company,  and  afterwards  called 
the  ancient  and  honorable  company,  was  formed. 

Boston  was  now  limited  to  two  representatives ; 
it  had  three  before. 

Newport  in  Rhode  Island,  settled  by  antinomians 
from  Boston.  Their  opinions  had  been  condemned 
in  1637,  but  they  continued  to  make  disturbance  in 
the  churches  by  forcing  their  wild  opinions  upon 
others,  and  reproaching  the  regular  and  learned 
ministers. 

1640.  Few  additional  emigrants  from  England 
this  year  or  afterwards.  Political  disputes  were  high 
in  that  country,  between  the  king  and  parliament: 
and  the  puritans  there  were  gaining  more  influence. 
Sometime  in  this  year,  several  families  removed  to 
Long  Island  near  Hudson's  river,  from  Lynn,  where 
they  had  not  good  lands  for  farms.  They  first  set 
down  at  the  west  end  of  the  island ;  but,  having 
disputes  with  the  Dutch,  removed  to  the  easterly 
end.  The  inhabitants  at  Providence,  though  feWj 
(about  forty-five  families,)  formed  a  civil  govern- 
ment. It  was  several  years  later,  1643,  that  they 
received  a  charter,  including  Rhode  Island,  first 
settled  in  1638. 

There  was  an  act  passed  by  the  general  court 
that  no  master,  or  his  executor  or  administrator, 
should  put  off  a  servant  for  more  than  one  year, 
unless  by  consent  of  some  court,  or  of  two  assistants  ; 
otherwise  the  assignment  should  be  void.  And  that 
if  any  man  smite  out  the  eye  or  tooth  of  his  servant, 
or  otherwise  maim  them,  he  shall  let  them  go  free 


52 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


from  his  service,  and  allow  farther  recompense,  as 
the  court  shall  allow  and  order. 

The  rulers  of  Massachusetts  decline  to  put  them- 
selves under  the  protection  of  parliament,  lest  par- 
liament should  afterward  assume  and  exercise 
power  over  them  without  their  consent. 

This  year  a  general  court  was  first  holden  at 
Saco.  The  settlement  was  made  there  by  Sir  F. 
Gorges  several  years  earlier. 

The  towns  of  Andover  and  Haverhill  were  incor- 
porated this  year. 

The  use  of  tobacco  was  now  forbidden  by  law  in 
Massachusetts.    The  sale  of  spiritous  liquors  and 

strong  water  "  regulated,  but  not  prohibited,  as  it 
should  have  been. 

The  immigrations  to  New  England  were  very  few 
after  this  time;  and  the  population  was  estimated 
at  twenty -one  thousand.  They  were  brought  over 
by  about  two  hundred  ships,  from  two  hundred  to 
four  hundred  tons,  (J.  Dummer  says  one  hundred 
and  ninety-four).  Some  brought  two  hundred  souls ; 
others  one  hundred  and  fifty  or  one  hundred. 

An  episcopal  minister  officiated  at  Piscataqua, 
within  the  patent  to  Gorges  and  Mason  :  but  con- 
tinued there  only  a  short  time.  He  was  the  first 
clergyman  in  New  England  who  observed  the 
English  ritual. 

The  lands  occupied  by  the  Enghsh  on  Long 
Island,  at  New  Haven  and  other  parts  of  Connecticut, 
as  well  as  in  Plymouth  colony  and  in  Massachusetts, 
about  Boston,  and  at  Concord,  Brookfield,  Haverhill, 
&c.  &c.,  were  all  fairly  purchased  of  the  Indian 
sachems  who  claimed  them.    Some  other  places 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


53 


which  were  wholly  destitute  of  Indians,  the  distant 
sachems  consented  the  English  might  possess  ;  so 
far  is  it  from  being  true  as  some  have  asserted,  that 
the  English  took  lands  by  force^  or  obtained  them 
by  f7-aud.  Governor  Winslow  said  in  1673,  they 
did  not  occupy  or  claim  any  lands  in  Plymouth 
colony  except  by  purchase  and  free  consent  of  the 
Indians.  As  late  as  1770,  James  Otis  and  John 
Adams  said  the  same;  and  challenged  any  one  to 
show  the  contrary. 

1641.  The  first  vessel  built  at  Plymouth  was  at 
this  time  ]  it  was  fifty  tons.  One  was  before  built  at 
Boston,  by  governor  Winthrop,  called  the  Blessing. 
A  church  was  gathered  this  year,  at  Martha's 
Yineyard.  Soon  after,  1643,  Thomas  Mayhew,  Jr. 
preached  the  gospel  to  the  Indians  there.  At  this 
time,  many  laws,  enacted  for  ten  years,  were 
collated,  and  in  some  instances  altered :  Rev.  Mr. 
Cotton  and  Rev.  Mr.  Ward  of  Ipswich,  assisted  : 
An  abstract  was  printed  in  London,  and  reprinted 
at  Cambridge.  In  1648  a  more  full  and  complete 
collection  of  the  laws  of  the  colony  was  made  and 
published,  by  authority  of  the  general  court.  One 
of  these  laws  forbid  slavery  and  captivity,  except  of 
such  as  were  taken  in  war.  One  provided  for 
receiving  and  succoring  strangers,  who  were 
christians  fleeing  from  persecution  ;  one  was  against 
monopolies,  except  for  a  new  invention;  and  one, 
that  no  injunction  should  be  laid  on  any  church  or 
officer  of  a  church,  besides  the  institutions  and 
commands  of  Christ.  The  authority  of  parliament 
over  the  colony  was  denied  by  implication.  Several 
6 


54 


NEW   ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


towns  in  New  Hampshire  now  put  themselves  under 
Massachusetts. 

Several  vessels  were  built  before  this  period,  at 
Boston  and  Salem,  and  one  at  Plymouth.  Between 
sixty  and  seventy  regular  and  learned  clergymen 
had  then  arrived  ;  and  a  few  had  returned  to 
England.  Twenty-one  thousand  souls  now  in 
Massachusetts  ;  including  those  removed  to  Con- 
necticut in  1635,  '6,  '7,  and  '8.  Cattle  were  brought 
over  :  farms  and  gardens  cultivated  ;  mills  were 
erected  ;  churches  were  formed  in  all  the  settlements  ; 
about  forty  at  this  time  ;  schools  provided ;  county 
courts  established  ;  towns  incorporated  and  duly 
governed  by  selectmen  or  committees  ;  and  a  college 
founded  at  Cambridge  to  support  the  cause  of  human 
learning.  The  opinion  of  the  principal  men  who 
first  came  into  the  colony  may  be  gathered  from  the 
following  observations  of  E.  Johnson,  who  was  one 
of  them,  and  wrote  in  1656.  "  The  Lord,  intending 
to  have  the  truths  of  the  gospel  more  manifest,  not 
by  man's  reason,  nor  tradition  of  our  fathers,  but  by 
the  holy  scriptures,  prepared  agents  for  the  work ; 
men  of  like  infirmities  with  ourselves;  liable  to  err; 
yet  did  the  Lord  Christ  cause  them  to  be  trained  up 
in  learning,  and  tutored  at  the  college.  And  verily, 
had  not  the  Lord  been  pleased  to  furnish  New 
England  with  the  means  for  the  attainment  of  learn- 
ing, the  work  [of  the  gospel]  would  have  been 
carried  on  very  heavily  ;  and  the  hearts  of  godly 
parents  have  vanished  away  with  heaviness  for  their 
poor  children,  whom  they  must  have  left  in  a  deso- 
late wilderness,  destitute  of  the  means  of  grace." 

I'he  number  of  persons  who  had  now  emigrated 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY.  55 

to  Massachusetts,  was  about  twenty-one  thousand, 
after  this  period,  but  comparatively  few  came  over 
to  settle.  Tiie  republican  party  in  England  had 
greatly  increased  :  so  also  had  the  presbyterians  and 
independents;  so  that  there  was  much  less  reason 
for  leaving  their  native  country.  In  Massachusetts, 
Plymouth,  Connecticut  and  New  Haven,  there  were 
thirty-eight  or  forty  churches :  eight  in  Plymouth 
colon 3^,  eight  in  Connecticut  ;  and  twenty-three  or 
twenty-four  in  Massachusetts. 

Three  agents  sent  to  England  on  the  subject  of 
trade  and  excise  ;  two  of  them  clergymen. 

1641.  An  abstract  of  the  laws  of  Massachusetts 
was  published  in  London  :  prepared  as  was  believed 
in  great  part  by  Rev.  Mr.  Cotton  of  Boston.  But  it 
had  not  the  sanction  of  the  general  court  ;  or  was 
not  adopted  by  them  as  authority.  In  1655,  a  sec- 
ond edition  was  published  in  London.  "The  body 
of  liberties,"  or  code  of  laws  adopted  in  1651,  con- 
taining one  hundred  laws,  was  prepared  by  Rev. 
Mr.  AVard  of  Ipswich,  who  was  educated  a  lawyer. 
In  compiling  the  '  abstract,'  Cotton  was  believed  to 
have  consulted  governor  Yane,  who  was  in  the  colony 
1636,  and  part  of  1637.  The  first  edition  of  the  laws 
of  Massachusetts  was  published  in  1649  ;  the  second, 
irn  1660;  and  the  third,  in  1672.  Bellingham  was 
the  principal  person  employed  in  preparing  the  edi- 
tion of  1649. 

1641.  There  were  three  Regiments  of  militia  in 
the  colony,  and  twenty-six  cempanies.  There  were 
also  several  troop  of  horse  about  this  time.  The 
lieiit.  governor  was  the  first  major-general :  governor 
Endicott  often  held  that  office ;  as  also  Edward  Gib- 


56 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


bons,  Robert  Sedgwick,  Humphrey  Atherton  and 
Wait  Winthrop  afterward. 

The  office  was  filled  hy  an  annual  election,  by  the 
members  of  the  general  court. 

1643.  The  colonies  of  New  England,  Plymouth, 
Massachusetts,  Connecticut  and  New  Haven,  con- 
federate together  for  mutual  defence  and  safety 
against  the  Indians  and  the  Dutch,  then  hostile  and 
frequently  threatening  the  English.  Several  towns 
settled  or  incorporated  this  year :  Billerica,  Lancaster, 
Rehoboth,  Eastham,  Woburn,  Gloucester,  and  Tops- 
field.  Several  laws  were  now  made  against  the 
baptists.  One  hundred  and  twenty-seven  freemen 
added  to  Massachusetts  this  year.  In  1641,  there 
was  a  still  greater  number.  There  had  then  been 
seventy-seven  ministers  of  the  gospel,  and  fifteen 
young  men  who  became  ministers,  driven  from 
England  and  settled  in  New  England;  fifty  towns 
settled  and  forty  churches  formed. 

1643.  Three  ministers  went  from  Massachusetts 
to  Virginia,  to  preach  there. 

1644.  Massachusetts  had  permission  to  govern 
the  Narragansett  country ;  but  it  was  also  granted 
to  R.  Williams  the  same  year. 

Twenty-six  companies  of  militia  in  Massachusetts, 
and  four  regiments ;  several  companies  of  cavalry 
also  about  this  time.  And  now  the  colony  was 
divided  into  four  counties,  Sufiblk,  Essex,  Middlesex, 
and  Norfolk  :  the  latter  containing  only  a  few  towns 
on  the  north  side  of  Merrimack  river. 

The  Vine)^ard  was  this  year  attached  to  Massa- 
chusetts. And  at  this  time  Mr.  Mayhew  and  son 
preached  the  gospel  to  the  Indians  there.    This  was 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


57 


nearly  two  years  before  Eliot  of  Roxbiiry  began  to 
preach  to  the  natives.  The  anabaptists  now  appear 
in  Massachusetts. 

1644.  '46.  The  French  at  Penobscot,  St.  Croix, 
and  St.  John,  troublesome.  They  seized  some  fishing 
and  trading  vessels  belonging  to  the  English.  They 
also  took  goods  at  Boston  on  credit,  and  never  paid 
for  them.  They  had  contests  among  themselves, 
and  applied  to  Massachusetts  for  aid.  The  governor 
was  inclined  to  aid  those  who  traded  at  Boston,  and 
thought  they  had  justice  on  their  side.  But  many  of 
the  clergy  and  assistants  were  opposed  to  it,  as  it 
might  lead  to  war  with  one  party. 

1645.  A  ship  was  built  in  Boston  of  four  hundred 
tons. 

Bridgewater  settled  by  people  from  Duxbury.  All 
the  Duxbury  freemen  had  lots  given  them,  but  only 
a  few  of  them  removed  there.  But  many  of  their 
sons  settled  in  that  place  afterwards. 

There  were  iron  works  at  Lynn  or  Saugus,  and 
at  Braintree. 

One  Capt.  Smith  brought  a  negro  from  Africa, 
which  he  had  taken  by  force,  to  the  settlement  on 
Piscataqua  river;  but  the  government  then  claiming 
jurisdiction  over  that  place,  ordered  the  African  to 
be  sent  back  and  liberated.  Long  after  this  time, 
negroes  were  held  in  slavery  in  Massachusetts,  but 
the  slave-trade  was  disapproved  of  and  prohibited. 
Slaves  were  most  numerous  in  the  province  in  1745, 
1750. 

1646.  E.  Winslow,  then  the  agent  of  Massachu- 
setts in  England,  was  instructed  to  deny  the  power 
of  appeal  from  courts  here  to  England. 


5g 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


Edward  Winslow  procured  an  act  in  England  to 
incorporate  a  society  for  the  propagation  of  the 
gospel. 

Rev.  Mr.  Hobart  of  Hingham,  and  some  of  his 
people  denied  the  right  of  the  government  to  inflict 
capital  punishments  ;  they  said  it  had  no  more  power 
than  a  common  corporation  in  England.  He  was 
tried  by  a  court  and  jury  and  found  guilty  of  improper 
and  dangerous  denial  of  the  authority  of  the  govern- 
ment, and  a  fine  was  imposed  on  him  of  one  hundred 
pounds.  In  this  case  the  court  asserted  that  there 
was  no  appeal  from  their  judgment  and  sentence  to 
England,  as  Mr.  Hobart  and  his  party  contended 
for  :  that  the  people  of  Massachusetts  were  styled 
subjects  of  their  own  government;  and  that  the 
writs  of  the  court  were  not  in  the  name  of  the  his 
majesty,  but  of  the  government  of  Massachusetts. 

1647.  A  fatal  pestilence  prevailed  all  over  New 
England  ;  and  many  died  among  the  Dutch,  English, 
and  Indians.  It  began  with  a  cold,  and  a  fever 
followed  ;  supposed  owing  to  the  atmosphere. 

1648.  Margaret  Jones  was  hung  for  a  witch  in 
Boston. 

The  general  court  made  provision  by  law  for  the 
preaching  of  the  gospel  to  the  Indians.  Mr.  Eliot 
of  Roxbury,  soon  after  engaged  in  the  work  ;  and 
continued  occasionally  for  more  than  thirty  years. 
His  labors  were  attended  by  some  success  for  several 
years.  But  when  he  was  eighty,  he  said  it  was  a 
small  day  with  the  Indians.  Mayhew,  on  the  Vine- 
yard, preached  to  the  Indians  at  a  little  earlier 
period.  About  this  period,  for  several  years,  the 
Narragansett  Indians  were  hostile  toward  the  English 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


59 


and  committed  some  depredations.  Massachusetts 
declared  war  against  them,  and  they  soon  after 
entered  into  a  treaty  with  the  Enghsh.  Their 
sachem  was  a  man  of  intrigue  and  deceit ;  and  httle 
faith  to  be  reposed  in  his  promises.  The  united 
colonies  declared  his  conduct  very  unjustifiable. 

1649.  Massachusetts  again  formally  protested 
against  all  appeals  to  England.  A  law  was  made 
this  year  against  the  Jesuits. 

Governor  John  Winthrop  died,  at  the  age  of  sixty. 
He  was  chosen  governor  during  the  period  1630  to 
1649,  for  nine  separate  years.  A  very  learned  and 
discreet  man  ;  mild  but  firm  in  his  ofiicial  manners, 
and  a  perfect  pattern  of  all  the  christian  virtues. 

1650 — 1660.  During  the  Commonwealth,  in  Eng- 
land, or  the  usurpation  of  Cromwell,  the  people  and 
government  of  Massachusetts  had  less  trouble  than 
formerly.  Cromwell  was  very  favorable  to  them  in 
their  ecclesiastical  affairs,  for  he  was  an  Indepen- 
dent and  professed  to  be  republican.  Yet  he  was 
ambitious  of  power  ;  and  sometimes  issued  orders  to 
Massachusetts  which  they  declined  to  submit  to. — 
They  endeavored  to  strengthen  their  claims  to  inde- 
pendence. It  was  during  this  time,  that  money  was 
coined  by  the  colony;  which  was  matter  of  com- 
plaint against  them  by  Charles  II  and  his  ministers 
in  1661.  When  Richard  Cromwell,  son  of  Oliver 
assumed  the  supreme  power,  Massachusetts  did  not 
recognize  him.  And  when  Charles  II  was  first  res- 
tored, they  did  not  acknowledge,  without  delay  and 
hesitation.  Cromwell  drove  off'  the  French  from 
several  places  in  Acadie  :  Some  submitted  to  his 
arms  under  Sedgwick.    He  also  proceeded  to  attack 


60  NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 

Ihe  Dutch  at  New  York;  but  peace  was  made  and 
open  hostilities  happily  prevented.  At  this  period, 
the  Quakers  were  very  disorderly  in  Massachusetts. 
They  came  into  the  colony  from  Barbadoes.  They 
made  much  confusion,  opposed  the  forms  and  wor- 
ship of  the  Puritans  in  a  violent  manner.  They 
were  ordered  away,  and  when  they  refused,  they 
were  sent  out  of  the  jurisdiction.  They  soon  returned, 
and  were  far  more  disorderly  than  before.  Some 
were  whipt  and  some  imprisoned,  and  again  ordered 
away,  on  penalty  of  h^avy  punishment.  But  many 
of  them  returned  and  were  more  insolent  and  violent 
than  at  their  former  visits.  Two  of  them  were  pun- 
ished with  death.  This  was  very  severe  treatment ; 
as  this  conduct  only  required  banishment,  or  im- 
prisonment 

-1651.  The  people  of  York,  Wells  and  Saco,  in 
Maine,  applied  to  join  Massachusetts,  and  were 
received. 

1653.  There  was  a  dispute  between  the  people 
and  the  Dutch  on  Hudson  river;  but  Massachusetts 
prevented  war.  They  said  it  was  not  expedient  for 
those  who  came  to  America  to  propagate  the  gospel 
to  be  forward  to  engage  in  war  with  christian 
neighbors. 

Richard  Bellingham  was  chosen  governor;  he 
was  the  most  learned  character  in  the  colony  in 
jurisprudence. 

The  Massachusetts  north  line  was  run,  and  made 
to  include  a  great  part  of  Maine. 

A  great  alarm  at  this  time  from  a  report  that  the 
Dutch  at  Hudson's  river  and  the  Narragansett 
Indians  had  combined  to  attack  the  English.  A 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


61 


large  body  of  men  was  prepared ;  but  peace  was 
made  soon  after  between  England  and  Holland. 

1654.  There  was  an  order  of  the  general  court 
of  Massachusetts  that  no  one  be  called  to  the  office 
of  a  pastor  of  a  church  without  the  approbation  of 
some  of  the  magistrateSj  as  well  as  of  churches  and 
ministers  of  neighboring  towns.  The  court  authorized 
the  people  of  separate  towns  to  provide  for  the 
support  of  their  ministers  by  a  tax. 

At  the  request  of  New  Haven  colony,  Cromwell 
ordered  several  ships  of  war  to  subdue  the  Dutch 
on  Hudson's  river  :  but  a  treaty  of  peace  being  made, 
the  ships  sailed  to  the  French  settlements  at  the 
eastward.  They  reduced  the  French  forts  on  the 
river  St.  John,  and  at  Port-royal ;  and  all  Acadia  ^ 
soon  after  submitted  to  the  English.  The  protector 
Cromwell  had  called  on  Massachusetts  and  Plymouth 
colonies  to  furnish  five  hundred  men  to  assist  New 
Haven  against  the  Dutch ;  Massachusetts  declined 
ordering  any  troops  to  be  raised ;  but  jyermitted 
Major  Sedgwick  and  Captain  Leveret  to  raise  volun- 
teers for  the  service.  The  general  court  of  Massachu- 
setts at  this  time  passed  a  law  to  encourage  spinning. 
It  required  "  that  all  hands  not  necessarily  employed 
on  other  occasions,  women,  girls  and  boys,  should 
spin  according  to  their  skill  and  ability;"  and 
directed  "  the  selectmen  in  every  town  to  see  that 
there  was  at  least  one  spinner  to  a  family." 

1655.    John  Endicott  was  chosen  the  governor 

*  Acadia  extended  south-west  as  far  as  Penobscot,  or  Pemaquid  ; 
and  included  Nova  Scotia,  which  was  the  tract  or  territory  on  the 
south-east  of  the  Bay  of  Fundy. 

6 


62 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY, 


this  year,  and  for  several  years  after  in  succession. 
He  had  the  confidence  of  the  people,  and  was  a 
man  of  decision. 

Ann  Hibbins,  whose  husband  had  been  a  magis- 
trate and  a  man  of  large  estate,  was  convicted  of 
being  a  witch,  and  hung.  Rev.  Mr.  Norton  said 
^'  it  was  because  she  had  more  wit  than  her 
neighbors." 

1656.  The  quakers  first  appeared  in  Massachu- 
setts at  this  period  ;  they  had  previously  visited 
Plymouth.  They  were  banished  from  that  colony  : 
but  in  Massachusetts  several  of  them  were  executed, 
after  having  been  banished,  and  returning,  though 
on  pain  of  death,  and  being  very  disorderly,  in 
opposition  to  the  laws  of  the  colony. 

1657.  A  synod  or  assembly  of  ministers  was  held 
this  year  in  Boston,  by  request  of  the  magistrates, 
to  consider  who  were  proper  subjects  of  baptism  ; 
particularly  as  to  the  propriety  of  confining  the 
ordinance  to  the  children  of  members  of  the  church, 
or  of  allowing  those  to  receive  it  whose  parents  were 
baptized,  were  of  good  moral  character  and  who 
would  make  public  declaration  of  their  belief  of  the 
christian  religion.  The  assemblyconsisted  of  twenty- 
six  ministers  ;  some  of  them  from  Connecticut. 
Their  opinion  was  in  favor  of  baptizing  the  children 
of  such  parents  as  had  been  baptized  and  professed 
faith  in  the  gospel.  But  there  were  some  dissentients  ; 
and  a  long  dispute  on  the  subject  soon  follov/ed. 

1658.  There  was  an  earthquake  in  Massachusetts 
this  year,  which  caused  great  alarm  to  the  inhabit- 
ants. One  occurred  at  a  more  early  period  ;  in  1636, 
and  several  a  little  later,  in  1663. 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


63 


1660.  Whalley,  Goffee  and  Dixwell,  the  regicide 
Judges  of  King  Charles  I,  arrived  in  Massachusetts; 
and  appeared  openly  for  some  months  ;  but  were  af- 
terwards in  concealment,  as  an  order  was  issued  in 
England,  on  the  restoration  of  Charles  IT,  for  their 
arrest.  They  lived  several  years  after  this,  and 
were  secreted  great  part  of  the  time  in  the  houses  of 
clergymen.  At  this  period,  there  were  ten  places  in 
New  England  where  the  Indians  had  preaching, 
and  were  called  ''praying  Indians." 

1661.  The  society  for  the  propagation  of  the 
gospel  among  the  Indians  in  New  England,  which 
had  become  legally  defunct,  was  now  revived  by  a 
new  charter,  from  Charles  II.  In  course  of  this  year, 
he  was  formally  acknowledged,  in  Massachusetts,  as 
the  lawful  and  rightful  sovereign  of  Great  Britain. 
Complaints  had  been  made,  that  it  was  so  long  de- 
layed. He  had  before  that  time  been  addressed  by 
the  general  court ;  but  not  solemnly  declared.  He  or 
his  ministers  were  jealous  of  the  people  in  this  colony, 
which  they  said  "  had  become  a  real  Republic." — 
They  required  full  toleration  for  Episcopalians,  and 
declared  against  the  persecution  of  Quakers,  unless 
when  they  disturbed  the  public  peace  and  forcibly 
opposed  the  laws  of  the  colony.  The  general  court 
sent  two  agents  to  England  to  concihate  the  favor 
of  the  King ;  one  of  them  was  a  Clergyman.  The 
translation  of  the  new  testament  into  the  Indian 
language  was  completed  by  Rev.  Mr.  Eliot  of  Rox- 
bury.  and  printed  this  year  at  Cambridge. 

1661.  Charles  II  was  acknowledged  in  Massa- 
chusetts, But  the  General  Court  at  the  same  time 
made  a  manly  report  asserting  the  rights  and  liber- 


64 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


ties  of  the  people  in  the  colony,  and  the  kind  and 
measure  of  authority  due  to  the  crown.  Orders 
were  received  from  England  to  forbear  putting 
Quakers  to  death. 

1661.  — 1666.  During  all  this  period,  Charles  II., 
and  his  courtiers  were  very  arbitrary  in  their  inter- 
ference with  Massachusetts  government,  and  the 
measures  adopted,  or  threatened.  They  supposed 
the  people  and  rulers  in  that  and  other  New 
England  colonies  aimed  at  sovereign  power,  and 
Avould  soon  be  separate  and  independent  of  the 
crown,  if  not  checked  and  restrained.  They  issued 
orders  regulating  religious  affairs,  requiring  appeals 
from  judgments  of  courts  here  to  England  :  sending 
judges  to  hold  courts  of  appeal,  from  courts  in  Mas- 
sachusetts, and  even  from  acts  of  the  General  Court 
of  the  colony.  These  measures  were  not  submitted 
to  here — but  opposed  by  the  majority,  both  in  and 
out  of  the  General  Court.  The  royal  agents  were 
prevented  exercising  their  authority  in  the  colony; 
the  people  refused  to  submit  to  their  orders — and 
they  returned  in  1665  and  1666,  after  being  here 
about  two  years.  They  interfered  with  land  titles 
and  with  religious  forms  and  discipline,  but  the 
people  held  fast  to  their  ancient  rights. 

1662.  The  general  court  of  Massachusetts  ap- 
pointed two  persons,  as  licensers  of  the  presses  :  one 
of  them  the  clergyman  of  Cambridge.  Nothing  was 
allowed  to  be  published  except  previously  examined 
and  approved  by  them.  This  year  some  French 
Protestants  were  permitted  to  settle  in  the  colony. — 
The  oldest  son  of  Massasoit,  being  dead,  Philip, 
Sachem  of  the  Pokanoket  tribe  of  Indians,  made  a 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


65 


treaty  with  the  colony  of  Plymouth,  or  reviewed 
and  confirmed  that  previously  made  by  his  father ; 
and  sought  the  friendship  of  the  English.  He  en- 
gaged to  live  in  unity  and  peace,  and  promised  to 
dispose  of  no  part  of  the  lands  he  claimed  to  any 
persons  without  consent  of  the  government  of 
Plymouth.  And  that  government  promised  to  aid 
the  tribe  against  any  who  might  assault  or  encroach 
on  them. 

During  this  year,  several  ministers  came  to 
New  England  from  Great  Britain,  in  consequence 
of  the  act  of  uniformity  in  religion  there  passed. — ■ 
Two  thousand  were  deprived  of  their  places  or  par- 
ishes, by  that  intolerant  act,  at  the  very  time  the 
Rulers  in  Massachusetts  were  required  to  tolerate 
Episcopalians,  Quakers  and  other  sects,  in  the  col- 
ony. Several  of  these  ejected  ministers  died  in  prison 
in  England.  One  of  those  who  returned  to  New 
England  was  Nathaniel  Brewster,  grandson  of 
Elder  Brewster  of  Plymouth,  and  a  graduate  in  the 
first  class  of  Harvard  College. 

1662.  The  charter  of  Connecticut  was  granted, 
on  the  application  of  John  Winthrop  who  was  the 
first  Governor  of  that  Colony.  New  Haven  was  in- 
cluded. 

1662.  An  ecclesiastical  synod  was  held  in  Boston  ; 
being  the  third  held  in  the  colony.  It  related  to 
the  subject  of  baptism. 

1662.  — 1663.  Several  earthquakes  in  New  Eng- 
land. 

1663.  The  Court  at  Plymouth  proposes  to  have  a 
School  in  every  town  in  that  colony.  There  were 
then  twelve  towns  there.    At  this  time  there  were 

6 


66 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


132  vessels  owned  in  Massachusetts.  The  mihtia 
were  estimated  at  4500. 

1668.  A  charter  was  this  year  granted  hy  the 
King  for  a  distinct  civil  government  or  colony,  by 
the  name  of  Rhode  Island  and  Providence  Planta- 
tions, chiefly  by  the  influence  of  Roger  Williams. — 
An  act  of  Parliament  was  passed  at  this  time  for  the 
regulation  of  trade  to  the  colonies;  which  was  a 
complete  monopoly,  for  the  benefi^t  of  England.  It 
was  highly  disapproved  by  Massachusetts ;  they  sub- 
mitted to  it  with  reluctance  ;  and  indeed  often  evaded 
it.  For  they  disputed  the  authority  of  Parliament 
to  make  laws  for  them.  An  earthquake  took  place 
in  January  of  this  year,  in  North  America ;  it  was 
most  alarming  in  Canada,  on  several  other  days 
afterwards  slight  shocks  were  felt. 

1663.  Eliot's  translation  of  the  whole  Bible  into 
the  Indian  language — the  dialect  of  Massachusetts 
tribes — was  now  printed  at  Cambridge.  The  new 
Testament  was  printed  before.  Rev.  Mr.  Cotton  of 
Plymouth  assisted  Mr.  EJiot  in  the  translation.  A 
second  edition  was  published  in  1685.  The  Society 
in  England  paid  £900  for  the  expense  of  printing. 

1663.  Providence  Plantations  obtained  a  second 
charter. 

1664.  The  boundary  line  between  Plymouth  and 
Massachusetts  colonies  was  run  and  defined  this 
year. 

An  ordinance  of  the  general  assembly  in  Rhode 
Island  of  this  year,  allowed  all  men  of  comjjetent 
estate  and  civil  conversation  be  admitted  freemen. 
Roman  catholics,  some  writers  assert,  were  excepted  ; 
but  others  deny  it. 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


67 


There  was  this  year  an  order  of  the  general 
court  of  Massachusetts  prohibiting  a  printing-press 
in  any  place  but  Cambridge;  and  licensers  of  the 
press  were  continued. 

1664.  Four  Commissioners  were  appointed  by 
the  King  to  set  as  a  Court  of  appeal  from  the  regu- 
lar tribunals  of  justice  in  the  colonies.  The  mea- 
sure was  adopted  on  account  of  complaints  made  by 
discontented  individuals  against  the  decisions  of  the 
Courts,  particularly  against  Massachusetts.  They 
related  to  ecclesiastical  affairs,  and  the  titles  of 
lands. 

1664.  — December.  A  great  and  dreadful  comet 
seen  in  New  England. 

1665.  This  year  one  of  the  native  Indians  was 
graduated  in  Harvard  College;  but  died  soon  after. 
Several  others  were  some  time  in  College,  or  in  the 
school  preparing  for  College  but  did  not  receive  a 
degree.  Hard  study  and  confinement  did  not  agree 
with  them.  A  law  was  enacted  in  Massachusetts 
that  every  town  should  support  a  school ;  and  where 
there  are  100  families,  that  a  grammar  school  be 
kept.  A  similar  law  was  enacted  at  an  earlier  time 
— 1647.  The  law  was  now  repealed  which  required 
that  none  but  church  members  be  freemen. 

1665.  A  long  and  warm  dispute  between  the 
king's  commissioners  who  came  to  New  England  in 
1664,  and  the  general  court  of  Massachusetts,  as  to 
appeals  and  the  extent  of  civil  pov/er  in  the  colony. 
The  commissioners  claimed  authority  to  sustain  and 
hear  appeals ;  but  the  general  court  denied  their 
right  to  such  power,  though  they  were  sent  over  by 
the  crown  for  that  purpose.    The  court  declined 


68 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


submitting  to  them,  and  advised  the  people  not  to 
acknowledge  their  jurisdiction.  From  this  lime  to 
the  anuulling  of  the  charter  by  King  James  in  1685, 
there  were  disputes  with  the  government  of  England, 
as  to  its  right  to  legislate  for,  or  to  interfere  with 
the  affairs  of  Massachusetts. 

1665 — 1666.  Political  disputes  and  divisions  in 
Maine.  Three  parties  the  most  were  in  favor  of 
Massachusetts  government. 

1666.  An  Indian  church  was  formed  at  Sandwich, 
and  Rev.  Richard  Bourne  ordained  the  pastor.  He 
continued  the  religious  teacher  there  many  years, 
and  was  the  agent  of  much  good  to  them. 

1666,  King  Charles  II.  ordered  several  of  the 
principal  men  in  Massachusetts,  to  appear  before 
him,  and  his  council  in  London ;  to  answer  to 
charges  against  the  government,  and  to  apologize  for 
their  conduct  in  not  receiving  and  submitting  to  his 
commissioners  sent  out  in  1664. — But  they  declined 
going — they  said  they  could  not  bear  the  expense  ; 
that  they  had  contended  only  for  their  just  rights 
and  liberties.  A  large  minority  were  in  favor  of 
their  going;  but  the  majority  opposed  the  measure; 
as  it  would  subject  them  to  the  mercy  of  the 
crown  in  all  cases  afterwards. 

1667.  Mendon  and  Brookfield  settled. 

1667.  Several  vollies  of  shot  heard  discharged  in 
the  air,  near  Nantasket. — -Probable  falling  stones, 
more  frequent  since. 

1667.  Most  of  the  first  generation  who  settled 
New  England  had  now  departed  within  a  few  years  ; 
among  them  Rev.  Mr.  Wilson  and  Norton  of  Boston, 
Gov.  Endicott,  Rev.  Mr.  Stone  of  Hartford,  Rev. 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


69 


Mr.  Bulkley  of  Concord,  Rogers  of  Rowley,  Dunster, 
some  time  president  of  Harvard  college,  &c.  &c.  &c. 

The  towns  of  Mendon,  Brookfield  and  Westfield, 
were  incorporated  or  settled  about  this  period. 

1671.  The  first  congregational  church  was  gath- 
ered at  Portsmouth,  in  New  Hampshire.  There 
had  been  an  Episcopal  clergyman  there  before  for  a 
short  time.  The  object  of  the  first  settlers  on 
Piscataqua  river  was  trade  and  fishing. 

The  colony  of  Massachusetts  was  suspected  of 
aiming  at  independence  at  this  period ;  or  as  not 
having  a  proper  regard  for  the  authority  of  the  king 
and  government  of  Great  Britain.  The  board  of 
commissioners  of  trade  and  the  plantations  wrote  to 
the  governors  of  the  several  American  colonies, 
requiring  an  account  of  their  state  and  government. 
They  said  the  '"spirit  of  liberty  in  Massachusetts 
required  attention  and  restraint.  It  was  the  most 
powerful  colony,  and  seemed  to  be  breaking  away 
from  all  dependence  on  the  nation." 

1671.  John  Morton  teaches  the  first  school  in 
Plymouth,  then  just  opened,  "to  read,  write,  and 
cast  accounts."  First  law  for  schools  in  Plymouth 
published,  or  passed,  in  1671  and  1672. — Supported 
by  profits  of  cod  fishery. 

1672.  No  musicians,  by  trade  in  New  England. 
Dancing  school  set  up,  but  soon  put  down  by  law — 
no  cloth  made  here  worth  more  .than  four  shilUn^s  a 
yard — no  linen  over  two  shillings  and  sixpence. 

1672.  The  laws  of  parhament  for  duties  on  all 
products  of  the  colonies  not  carried  to  Great  Britain 
were  resisted,  and  in  a  great  measure  disregarded  in 
Massachusetts.     The  intelligent  patriots   of  this 


70 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


colony  seem  early  to  have  perceived  the  bearing  of 
acts  of  trade  and  navigation,  on  their  interests  and 
rights. 

1673.  Population  of  New  England  120,000— 
13,000  famiUes — 16,000  able  to  bear  arms— ships  of 
100  to  200  tons,  twelve.  500  fishing  boats;  190 
vessels  between  20  to  100  tons — 5  iron  works,  some 
merchants  worth  £5000 — no  house  with  more  than 
twenty  rooms — few  have  as  many  as  ten  rooms.  In 
Boston  1500  families. 

1673.  There  were  by  common  estimation  one 
hundred  twenty  thousand  souls  in  New  England ; 
about  eighty  thousand  in  Massachusetts.  Boston 
contained  fifteen  hundred  families,  and  eight  or  nine 
thousand  inhabitants.  About  a  fifth  part  were  able 
to  bear  arms. 

1674.  A  printing-press  was  allowed  by  the 
general  court  to  be  in  Boston  ;  Re  v.  Increase  Mather 
and  Rev.  Thomas  Thacher  were  appointed  the 
licensers  thereof. 

1675.  Three  churches  in  Boston.  Two  market 
fairs  daily.  On  the  south  side,  is  a  pleasant  com- 
mon, where  the  gallants,  a  little  before  sunset,  walk 
with  their  madames,  as  we  do  in  London,  till  the 
nine  o'clock  bell  rings  them  to  go  home.  Many 
houses  are  raised  near  the  sea,  or  bay;  and  wharfed 
out  with  great  industry  and  cost — some  standing  on 
piles,  close  together,  as  in  London,  and  having  fair, 
shops  :  they  are  built  of  brick.  Also  a  town  house 
built  on  pillars,  where  the  merchants  meet  and  con- 
fer together ;  and  in  the  chambers^  they  keep  the 
monthly  courts  of  Boston. 

1675.  Philip's  war  bcgati.    He  had  shown  him- 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


71 


self  hostile  for  some  time.  And  he  excited  all  the 
Indians  for  a  distance  to  combine  and  destroy  the 
English,  or  drive  them  from  the  country.  A  great 
battle  with  them  in  December,  when  Philip  and  his 
allies  were  routed.  But  in  1676,  in  the  spring,  he 
again  appeared  in  the  field  against  the  English — 
many  were  killed  men,  women  and  children  in 
various  places ;  generally  by  surprise;  and  houses 
burnt  and  cattle  destroyed.  Philip  was  shot  in 
August,  and  the  war  ended. 

1675 —  1676.— Philip's  war — defensive  on  part  of 
Massachusetts  and  United  Colonies. — Philip  was 
the  agressor  and  with  the  determination  to  exter- 
minate the  English — stirred  up  a  combination 
against  them  among  all  the  Indian  tribes  in  the 
country. — But  he  was  subdued  in  the  summer  of 
1676. — The  English  lost  many  lives  and  much 
property. 

1675.  The  commissioners  of  the  united  colonies 
of  New  England  made  common  cause  with  Plymouth 
for  defence  against  the  sachem  Philip  and  other 
tribes,  which  he  had  excited  to  combine  for  the 
destruction  of  the  English.  In  this  and  the  following 
year  great  damage  was  done  by  the  Indians  and 
many  lives  lost.  Deerfield  was  almost  entirely 
broken  up.  In  Scituate  nineteen  houses  and  barns 
were  burnt ;  in  Bridgewater,  seventeen ;  and  in 
Plymouth  town  an  equal  number. 

1676.  Philip  slain  and  the  war  ended.  The 
Indians  committed  depredations  on  the  English  at 
Groton,  at  this  period,  Haverhill,  Dover  in  New 
Hampshire,  and  at  various  places  in  Maine. 

1676 —  1791.    Small  pox  raged  in  and  near  Bos- 


72 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


ton  the  greater  part  of  this  period  ;  when  about  one 
sixth  part  of  those  who  had  the  disease  died.  Some 
years  after  innoculation  was  introduced,  and  not 
more  than  one  in  40  or  50  died  by  the  disorder. 

1677.  A  brick  building  erected  in  Cambridge  for 
the  College,  by  subscription.— R.  Williams  pub- 
lished a  book  against  the  Quakers. 

1677.  A  long  controversy  about  Maine;  a  large 
part  claimed  by  Massachusetts,  and  the  whole  by 
Gorges  and  Mason,  was  now  adjusted :  commissioners 
appointed,  the  king  having  adjudged  it  to  belong  to 
the  latter.  But  thereupon  an  heir  of  Gorges  assigned 
it  to  Massachusetts  for  a  certain  sum  ;  and  Massachu- 
setts afterwards  exercised  jurisdiction  over  it  as  far 
as  Kennebec  or  Sagadahock.  East  of  that  river  the 
French  still  claimed,  but  not  without  an  interfering 
claim  by  the  English. 

1679.  The  first  Baptist  meeting  house  in  Bos- 
ton was  built  this  year. 

Acts  of  trade,  adopted  by  parliament  to  reach  to 
the  colonies,  were  still  openly  evaded  in  Massachu- 
setts, with  the  knowledge  of  the  general  court 
They  denied  the  right  of  the  British  government  to 
impose  any  taxes  or  imposts  on  them,  because  they 
were  not  represented  in  parliament.  And  they  de- 
clined to  send  agents  to  appear  before  the  king,  as 
he  had  ordered,  because  they  were  poor. 

A  synod  was  held  this  year,  by  order  of  the 
general  court,  to  consider  the  causes  of  public 
calamities  and  troubles,  and  the  means  of  averting 
them.  The  synod  recommended  reformation  of 
manners  and  greater  attention  to  religion,  on  account 
of  the  degeneracy  of  the  timeS;  which  they  said 


New  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


73 


should  be  considered  as  the  cause  of  divine  judgments 
on  them. 

1679.  A  synod  held  in  Boston,  and  agreed  on  a 
confession  of  faith  for  congregational  churches  in 
New  England,  similar  to  former  confessions  and 
creeds. 

1680.  New  Hampshire  was  made  a  royal  prov- 
ince. At  this  time,  New  England  contained  80 
churches.  ' 

This  year  the  colony  of  Plymouth  petitioned  the 
king  for  a  charter ;  not  a  new  one,  as  most  writers 
say  ;  for  that  colony  never  had  a  royal  charter;  but 
only  a  patent.  Again  in  1683,  they  solicited  for  a 
charter;  but  none  was  granted.  That  colony  was 
united  with  Massachusetts  in  the  royal  charter  of 
William  and  Mary  in  1691^ 

1680.  Trade  of  Connecticut  for  goods,  chiefly  to 
Boston. — Twenty-four  small  vessels  then  owned  in 
that  colony. 

1680.  This  and  the  following  year  died  Thomas 
Mayhew,  the  first  English  settler  and  proprietor  of 
the  Yineyard,  at  the  age  of  eighty-eight ;  several  of 
his  descendents  also  lived  to  a  great  age.  Roger 
Conant  who  settled  at  Salem  in  1625,  three  years 
before  Endicott  came  there,  died  at  this  time,  about 
ninety  ;  Simon  Bradstreet,  one  of  the  first  company 
which  landed  at  Charlestown  1630,  lived  to  be  nine- 
ty-four; and  John  Alden  of  Plymouth  died  in  1686, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-eight.  Ezekiel  Cheever  in  1786, 
aged  ninety-four. 

1680.  Fifty  years  after  Higginson  came  to  Salem, 
above  60  churches  in  Massachusetts  and  Plymouth ; 
7 


74 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOaY. 


one  in  every  town,  when  first  settled,  and  the 
people  but  few.  Ten  or  eleven  churches  in  Con- 
necticut at  this  time.  Soon  after  the  settlement  of 
a  town  was  began,  they  had  a  minister. 

New  Hampshire  separated  from  Massachusetts 
and  made  a  royal  province. 

1681.  Edward  Randolph  complained  against 
Massachusetts  as  usurping  too  great  powers.  He 
was  the  chief  person  in  procuring  the  repeal  of  the 
charter,  and  introducing  arbitrary  power  in  the 
colony. — The  Court  granted  to  Rev.  Mr.  Hubbard 
of  Ipswich  £50  for  his  history  of  New  England. 

1682.  Randolph  again  accused  the  General 
Court  of  Massachusetts  of  evading  the  impost  duties 
laid  by  the  king,  and  of  disallowing  appeals  from 
judgments  given  in  the  colony  to  the  king  and  privy 
council.  Letters  were  received  ordering  the  Gen- 
eral Court  to  send  agents  to  England  to  answer  to 
these  complaints.  The  court  said  in  reply,  that  no 
suits  had  been  brought,  except  for  mal-conduct  in 
the  officer  of  the  customs ;  that  they  would  support 
the  officers  in  the  due  exercise  of  their  authority,  but 
as  to  appeals,  they  would  further  consider  whether 
they  would  allow  them.  Agents  were  again  ordered 
to  attend  the  royal  pleasure  in  London  ;  with  direc- 
tion to  submit  to  the  king's  orders,  even  to  an  alter- 
ation and  surrendefof  their  charter.  Messrs.  Dudley 
and  Richards  were  sent,  but  with  instructions  not  to 
consent  to  any  diminution  of  charter  rights  and 
privileges.  A  public  fast  was  kept  at  this  time. 
When  these  instructions  were  known,  a  royal  order 
was  issued  requiring  further  submission,  or  a  men- 
ace to  withdraw  the  charter — but  the  General  Court 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


75 


did  not  yield — and  said  it  was  better  to  die  by  the 
hand  of  others  than  by  their  own.  The  charter  was 
annulled  in  1685.  Dudley,  one  of  the  agents^  was 
in  favor  of  submitting  to  all  the  arbitrary  orders  of 
the  king  and  parliament,  and  said  the  people  of 
the  colony  could  not  expect  the  rights  of  Englishmen 
would  follow  them  to  the  ends  of  the  earth."  The 
colony  was  treated  either  as  loithin  the  realm  or 
without  the  realm,  as  it  suited  the  interest  or  views  of 
the  British  government  at  that  period  and  afterwards. 

The  first  notice  or  mention  of  a  fire  in  Boston  was 
in  1653.  But  the  particulars  are  not  given.  In 
1676  there  was  a  large  fire.  Forty-five  dwelling- 
houses,  the  north  church,  and  several  other  build- 
ings were  consumed. 

1683 — 4.  The  Indians  in  Plymouth,  Mass.  had 
28  places  for  public  religious  worship ;  the  quarter 
part  in  Plymouth  ;  there  were  then  14  or  1500  adults 
professing  faith  in  the  Christian  religion. 

1684.  Josiah,  an  Indian  Sachem  near  Boston, 
and  grandson  of  Chickatabut,  confirmed  the  lands 
in  Dorchester  and  Milton  to  the  English,  reserving 
6000  acres  to  the  Indians  of  his  tribe  about  Stough- 
ton. 

1684.  Massachusetts  charter  ordered  to  be  an- 
nulled— withdrawn  in  1685,  or  taken  into  the  king's 
hands. — 1686,  a  President  and  Council  set  over  the 
colony,  with  full  power  to  govern  ;  the  people 
having  no  power  or  liberty. 

1685 — June.  Massachusetts  deprived  of  charter 
and  continued  for  nearly  three  years,  till  April  1689, 
King  James  tyranized  over  the  people.  No  General 
Court  existed.    No  power  to  restrain  him. 


76 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


1685.  Plymouth  colony  was  this  year  divided 
into  three  counties. — The  converted  Indians  were 
then  quite  numerous  there:  more  than  2000;  chief- 
ly on  the  vineyard  and  in  Barnstable ;  but  some  in 
Plymouth,  Middleborough,  Dartmouth,  Tiverton. 

1686.  Joseph  Dudley  was  appointed  President 
of  the  New  England  colonies,  Massachusetts, 
Plymouth,  New  Hampshire  and  Maine;  with  a 
council,  but  no  House  of  Representatives.  He  was 
superceded  by  Sir  E.  Andros  in  six  months  :  with 
like  extensive  powers,  which  he  exercised  w^ith 
much  caprice  and  oppression.  A  military  company 
of  British  soldiers  was  stationed  at  Boston,  to  en- 
force the  orders  of  Andros,  Randolph  and  other  of- 
ficers appointed  by  the  king.  The  Indians  profess- 
ing the  Christian  religion  and  attending  statedly  to 
religious  ordinances  and  worship,  were  as  numerous 
now  as  at  any  period.  Rev.  Mr.  Cotton  of 
Plymouth,  son  of  the  famous  Mr.  Cotton  of  Boston, 
studied  their  language,  and  very  often  preached  to 
four  different  tribes.  Several  of  the  Indians  became 
useful  teachers  to  their  brethren. 

1686.  Several  French  protestants  arrive  and  set- 
tle in  Massachusetts.  They  were  banished  from 
France  by  an  edict  of  Nantz.  The  last  election 
held  in  the  colony  of  Plymouth  was  this  year. 
There  were  then  twenty  towns  in  that  colony.  The 
first  Episcopal  church  in  Boston,  was  now  formed. 
A  church  formed  in  Brattle  Square,  differing  some- 
what from  the  other  Congregational  churches.  The 
members  of  the  church  had  more  power  than  those 
of  the  congregation. 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


77 


1686.  The  charter  having  been  annulled,  Sir  E. 
Andros  was  appointed  governor  of  Massachusetts, 
with  full  power  to  govern  the  people  without  a 
House  of  Representatives,  with  a  council  only  to 
advise  him,  appointed  also  by  the  king.  He  was 
very  arbitrary  and  oppressive  ;  and  his  conduct 
highly  offensive  to  the  people.  But  five  of  the 
councillors  joined  with  Governor  Andros  in  his 
measures  ;  the  greater  part  refused  to  act  with  him. 

1686.    French  Protestants  settled  at  Oxford,  Mass. 

1687—8,  An  Episcopal  church  in  Boston,  and 
a  French  Protestant  church,  also  about  the  same 
time. 

1688.  Forts  manned  at  Pemaquid,  New  Castle, 
Sagadahock,  Pejepscot,  (Brunswick,)  Falmouth, 
Casco  Bay,  Saco,  Wells,  Kennebunk,  Merrimac 
river,  two  on  Connecticut  river, 

1689 — April.  Governor  Andros  seized  and  con- 
fined, and  a  revolution  by  the  people.  Former  civil 
officers  restored  until  election. 

1689.  Dover,  and  in  1690,  Salmon  Falls,  a  settle- 
ment on  the  Piscataqua,  were  attacked  by  Indians 
and  French  from  Canada,  and  many  of  the  inhabi- 
tants were  slain. 

1689.  The  people  of  Boston  and  vicinity  arose 
against  Andros,  and  confined  him  and  a  few  others 
who  had  been  his  tools.  This  was  after  James  had 
abdicated  the  throne,  and  William,  Prince  of  Or- 
ange, had  been  invited  to  receive  the  crown  of  Eng- 
land :  but  before  the  revolution  was  known  in  Mas- 
sachusetts to  have  been  effected. 

1690.  Sir  W.  Phips'  expedition  to  Nova  Scotia. 

7  ^ 


78 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


He  was  successful.  He  subdued  the  French,  and 
took  all  their  forts  and  possessions.  It  was  under- 
taken, April  1690,  and  composed  of  a  frigate,  two 
sloopSj  and  four  ketches.  The  property  taken  was 
deemed  sufficient  to  pay  the  expenses  of  the  expe- 
dition. This  success  led  to  an  attack  on  Canada 
the  same  year,  but  it  was  unsuccessful.  It  was 
larger  than  the  other ;  and  troops  marched  by  land 
also,  to  co-operate  with  the  naval  armament. — But 
the  expedition  was  badly  managed,  and  the  vessels 
met  storms,  and  the  troops  returned  late  in  the  sea- 
son, after  great  sufferings. 

1690.  Whale  fishery  now  began  at  Nantucket  in 
boats  from  shore.  Agents  were  sent  to  England  to 
solicit  a  new  charter,  which  was  granted  in  1691. 

1692.  General  Court  declared  "that  no  tax,  as- 
sessment, custom,  loan  or  imposition  whatever  should 
be  levied  or  laid,  but  by  act  of  Governor,  Council, 
and  House  of  Representatives." 

Buildings  in  Boston  were  required  to  be  of  brick 
or  stone. 

Stone  fort  built  at  Pemaquid, — one  there  before. 

1000  Indians  had  the  stated  means  of  religion  ~m 
Plymouth  Colony. 

1692.  Several  persons,  chiefly  woman  were  con= 
victed  of  witchcraft,  and  executed.  They  were 
chiefly  of  Salem  and  vicinity. 

1692.  New  Charter,  Plymouth  and  Massachu- 
setts united,  and  Maine  added. 

1692.  Declaration  of  civil  rights  by  Massachu- 
setts. 

1692.  Inhabitants  of  New  England  200,000-— 
1000  Indians  had  the  stated  means  of  religion  in 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


79 


Plymouth  colony :   the  whole  number  there  was 
1450. 

1692.  The  new  charter  for  Massachusetts  was 
received  in  May  of  this  year;  and  Sir  W.  Phipswas 
appointed  Governor.  By  this  charter  the  governor 
was  to  be  appointed  by  the  king;  in  other  respects, 
it  was  as  favorable  to  the  self-government  and  the 
rights  of  the  people  as  the  former  granted  at  the  first 
settlement  of  Massachusetts.  Full  enjoyment  of  re- 
ligious liberty  was  guaranteed ;  while,  by  the  first, 
it  was  only  promised  that  the  King  would  connive 
at  the  peculiar  forms  of  the  puritans.  Boston  sent 
only  two  Representatives  this  year,  as  the  new 
charter  provided  that  each  town  might  send  two. — 
The  General  Court  by  statute  permitted  Boston  to 
choose  four.  It  then  had  treble  and  quadruple 
and  even  more  inhabitants  than  the  other  towns 
which  sent  two.  This  year  an  act  was  passed  for 
the  support  of  a  learned  ministry ;  and  also  for  ex- 
empting from  taxes  for  support  of  the  Congregational 
clergy,  which  were  the  majority.  Episcopalians, 
Baptists  and  Quakers. 

1694 — June.  General  Court  declared  the  grant 
of  charter  rights,  their  authority  under  the  charter 
to  be  same  as  those  of  Parliament  in  England. 
Upwards  of  60  churches  in  Massachusetts. 

1694.  An  act  of  Legislature  required  the  Select- 
men to  post  up  a  list  of  all  drunkards,  and  tavern 
keepers  fined  for  selling  them  strong  drink. 

1694.     In  Plymouth  there  were   now   twenty  ' 
churches,  three  of  them  vacant :  sixty-four  in  Mas- 
sachusetts, and  six  of  them  destitute  of  a  pastor; 


so 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


twenty-six  in  Connecticut,  one  of  them  vacant.  All 
these  ministers  were  men  of  learning;  and  the  proofs 
of  their  piety  are  found  in  the  self-sacrificing  spirit 
they  exhibited  in  the  endurance  of  so  great  suffer- 
ings. 

1694.  Sir  W.  Phips,  the  first  Governor  under 
second  charter,  died  in  1694 ;  and  Lieut.  Governor 
William  Stoughton  acted  as  chief  magistrate;  he 
was  a  learned,  prudent,  and  pious  man.  He  was  at 
the  head  of  the  government  of  Massachusetts  five 
years.  He  was  also  first  Justice  of  the  Superior 
Court  in  the  province,  for  a  longer  period. 

1694.  In  1694,  soon  after  the  charter  was  received, 
the  House  of  Representatives  made  formal  assertion 
and  declaration  of  their  civil  rights,  in  which  they 
claim  the  sole  and  exclusive  right  to  lay  and  collect 
and  appropriate  all  taxes,  and  to  make  laws  for  the 
government  of  the  province. 

1694.  A  law  was  passed  in  Massachusetts  to  dis- 
courage excessive  drinking,  and  taverners  were  re- 
quired to  keep  a  list  of  common  tiplers,  and  to  al- 
low them  no  liquors. 

1696.  The  fort  at  Pemaquid,  then  in  the  hands 
of  the  English,  was  taken  by  the  French  and  de- 
stroyed. At  that  time,  the  French  claimed  the 
country  as  far  as  Pemaquid.— The  winter  was  the 
coldest  known  from  the  first  settlement  of  Massa- 
chusetts, loaded  sleds  passed  on  the  ice  in  the  har- 
bour to  Nantucket.  This  year  there  was  intelli- 
gence in  Massachusetts  of  a  French  fleet  destined  to 
make  an  attack  on  the  province,  which  caused  very 
great  alarm ;   but  the  projected  expedition  was  not 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


81 


prosecuted.  The  French  commander  of  Acadia,  at 
this  time  forbid  the  people  from  fishing  on  and  near  the 
coasts  eastAvard  of  Kennebec.  Those  concerned  in 
the  fisheries  were  greatly  annoyed  and  injured  by  the 
severity  of  the  French.  The  territory  from  Pema- 
quid  or  Kennebec  and  St.  Croix,  was  long  in  dispute 
between  the  English  and  French. 

1697.    It  was  restored  to  France  by  WiUiam  III. 

1699.  Kidd,  the  noted  pirate,  was  seized  in  Bos- 
ton, which  he  then  boldly  visited  with  his  piratical 
vessel  and  crew,  and  was  sent  to  England ;  where 
he  was  convicted  of  piracy  and  executed. — The 
manufacture  of  woollen  cloth  ^vas  now  attended  to 
in  Massachusetts,  and  some  carried  to  other  prov- 
inces and  places  ;  the  exportation  of  it  was  prohibit- 
ted  by  parliament.  So  early  w^ere  manufactures 
discouraged  in  the  colonies.  Boston  now  contained 
1000  houses,  between  7000  and  8000  inhabitants. 

1700.  Boston  instructs  its  representatives  to 
make  exertions  for  the  abolition  of  Slavery.  Two 
years  later  a  duty  was  laid  on  negroes  imported  into 
the  province.  During  the  year  1701,  a  Quaker 
Society  was  formed  at  Nantucket.  In  1710,  they 
built  a  house  of  worship  in  Boston. 

1700.  General  Court  of  Massachusetts  ordered 
all  Jesuits  and  popish  priests  to  depart  the  province. 
New  York  made  a  similar  law  against  them. 

1700.  Citizens  of  Boston  instruct  their  Represen- 
tatives to  endeavor  the  abolition  of  slavery.  Many 
were  then  held  in  servitude  in  the  province. 

1701.  Yale  College  was  founded  this  year,  at 
Saybrook — but  in  a  few  years  after,  1717,  W9.s  es= 


82 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


tablished  at  New  Haven.  The  General  Court  of 
Massachusetts  now  encouraged  the  cuUivation  and 
manufacture  of  hemp :  and  an  effort  was  again 
made  to  put  an  end  to  negro  slavery. 

1702.  Queen  Anne  declared  war  against  France ; 
and  thus  hostilities  between  the  people  of  New 
England  and  the  Indians  and  French  in  Canada, 
commenced. 

1703.  The  slave  trade  was  always  disallowed  in 
Massachusetts  and  in  other  parts  of  New  England. 
Fines  imposed  on  those  who  were  guiky  of  it. — 
Slavery  also  generally  discouraged  from  the  first 
settlement.  But  not  wholly  prohibited  by  law.  In 
1754,  Slavery  was  the  most  extensive;  upwards  of 
5000  in  Massachusetts  at  that  time.  Negroes  were 
bought  and  sold,  as  in  Southern  States  at  present. — 
And  some  of  the  native  Indians  who  had  proved 
treacherous  enemies  of  the  English,  after  professing 
friendship,  were  sold  for  slaves. 

1704.  The  first  newspaper  published  New  Eng- 
land, at  Boston. 

1704.  An  attack  was  made  by  the  French  and 
Indians,  on  Deerfield,  and  many  of  the  inhabitants 
were  slain.  At  Lancaster,  also,  great  damage  was 
done  and  many  people  killed  and  taken  prisoners. 
Colonel  Benjamin  Church,  of  Bristol  County,  offered 
his  services  against  the  eastern  Indians,  and  the 
French  settlements  in  Acadia.  He  had  500  men  un- 
der his  command,  and  fourteen  vessels,  and  some 
whale  boats  ;  ten  of  the  ships  carried  thirty  guns. — 
He  destroyed  several  French  settlements  in  Acadia, 
and  that  at  Penobscot. 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


83 


1704.  Col.  Benjamin  Church  made  his  fifth  ex- 
pedition to  the  eastward.  The  people  in  Maine  suf- 
fered much  at  that  time  from  the  Indians. 

1706.  Northern  light  first  noticed  by  any  in 
England,  and  first  noticed  and  described  in  New- 
England. 

1708.  Great  damage  done  at  Haverhill  by 
French  and  Indians  from  Canada. 

1708.  Several  frontier  towns  in  New  England 
were  attacked  by  the  French  and  Indians  from  Can- 
ada :  they  destroyed  many  lives  even  at  Haverhill. 
In  pursuance  of  a  plan  to  drive  the  French  from 
North  America,  an  expedition  was  prepared  to  go 
againsts  Canada  ;  both  by  land  and  water.  The  Brit- 
ish fleet,  which  was  to  assist ;  as  the  reduction  of 
Canada  was  supposed  in  England  would  be  a  great 
profit  to  them ;  did  not  join,  and  the  expedition 
proved  unfortunate.  A  large  debt  was  incurred  by 
Massachusetts,  and  paper  money  was  then  first  is- 
sued to  pay  it. 

1710.  General  Nicholson,  with  British  and  New 
England  forces,  again  reduced  L' Acadia,  or  Nova 
Scotia,  to  the  British  government,  in  time  of  Queen 
Anne,  and  gave  it  the  name  of  Annapolis. 

1711.  Fire  engines  first  used  in  Boston — but  some 
say,  there  were  two  in  the  town  before ;  yet  small 
and  of  little  benefit.  This  year  there  was  a  great  fire 
in  Boston ;  and  to  stop  its  spreading  several  buildings 
were  blown  up.  There  had  been  eight  extensive 
fires  before  this. 

1713.  Yessels  built  at  Cape  Ann  Point,  rigged  as 
schooners.  Episcopalians  in  Boston  petition  for 
Bishops  in  Massachusetts. 


S4  NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 

1713.  Treaty  of  Utrecht,  by  which  Nova  Scotia 
or  Acadia  was  made  over  and  ceded  to  Great  Brit- 
ain, including  Port  Royal  or  Annapolis,  and  all  other 
places  belonging  or  claimed  by  France  in  those 
parts.  But  this  did  not  include  Cape  Breton.  A 
treaty  with  the  eastern  Indians  soon  followed. 

1713.  The  boundary  line  between  Massachusetts 
and  Connecticut  was  now  run  and  accepted  by  the 
General  Assembly  of  each. 

1715.  A  light-house  was  erected  at  the  entrance 
of  Boston  harbour. 

1715.    Ginsing  discovered  in  Canada  by  a  Jesuit; 

1717.  Bellamy,  a  noted  pirate,  was  wrecked  on 
Cape  Cod,  and  one  hundred  men  drowned.  Six  of 
his  crew,  who  survived  that  disaster,  were  con- 
demned at  Boston,  and  executed.  Five  hundred 
vessels  were  now  employed  in  trade,  in  and  to  Mas- 
sachusetts, and  they  amounted  to  25,000  tons  ;  and 
3500  men  were  imployed  in  navigation  :  the  quarter 
part  of  these  vessels  were  fishermen. 

1718.  Pirates  suppressed  or  pardoned  by  King  of 
England,  and  their  depredations  ceased  in  West 
Indies. 

£500  collected  in  Boston  for  the  Christian  instruc- 
tion of  Indians. 

1719.  Londonderry,  in  New  Hampshire,  was  this 
year  settled  by  people  from  the  north  of  Ireland, 
who  were  of  Scotch  descent ;  about  a  hunderd  fam- 
ilies. They  cultivated  the  potato  largely,  and  manu- 
factured linen  more  than  the  earlier  inhabitants  of 
New  England. 

1720.  Rev.  Cotton  Mather  favors  the  practice  of 


NEW  EN<JLAND  CHRONOLOOY. 


85 


inoculation  for  the  small-pox ;  which  preventedj  in 
a  great  measure,  the  ravages  of  that  disease. 

1720.  The  second  newspaper  published  in  New 
England,  called  Boston  Gazette;  and  in  1721,  the 
Courant  was  published  there  by  J.  Franklin,  brother 
of  the  celebrated  Benjamin  Franklin. 

1720.  The  explanation  and  defence  of  Massachu- 
setts charter,  published  this  year  by  J.  Dummer, 
who  was  sometime  an  agent  of  the  province.  It 
was  written  in  1715,  when  there  was  a  plan  in  Eng- 
land to  annul  the  powers  of  the  colonies,  and  render 
them  more  dependent  on  the  British  parliament  and 
administration.  It  was  deemed  an  able  apology  of 
the  civil  power  claimed  and  exercised  by  the  Gen- 
eral Court  of  Massachusetts. 

1720.    First  inoculation  for  small  pox  in  Boston. 

1720.    Law  made  against  idleness. 

1720.  Building  houses  to  be  of  brick.  ' 

1721.  When  innoculation  was  practiced  in  Bos- 
ton, one  writer  says,  only  one  in  two  hundred  died, 
and  before  that,  one  in  six ;  another  writer  states  the 
portion  ditferently. 

1721;  Small  pox  again. — And  inoculation  gener- 
ally practiced,  but  many  had  it  in  the  natural  way — 
of  whom  one  in  six  died,  and  of  those  inoculated  one 
in  two  hundred — some  statements  vary  from  this,  but 
this  was  given  by  an  eminent  physician,  who  said 
it  prevailed  also  1676,  1690,  1702,  1730,  1752, 
1764,  1776  and  1792, 

1722.  Rev.  Timothy  Cutter,  principal  of  Yale 
College,  professes  Episcopacy,  was  ordained  in  Eng- 
land, as  an  Episcopal  clergyman ;  and  settled  in 


8 


86 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


Boston,  at  the  north  part  of  the  town.  Three  other 
ministers  in  Connecticut  went  over  to  the  church  of 
England  at  the  same  time. 

1722.  Sixteen  regiments  of  militia  in  Massachu- 
setts. 

1722.  Several  Congregational  Clergymen  in  Con- 
necticut publicly  declared  in  favor  of  Episcopacy. 

1722.  The  inhabitants  of  Massachusetts  were 
said  by  some  writers  to  be  95,000  ;  but  others  state 
them  to  amount  to  100,000.  There  were  sixteen 
regiments  of  militia,  about  eight  hundred  in  a  regi- 
ment ;  and  fifteen  troop  of  cavalry.  The  exempts 
were  about  one  third  more. 

1723.  Fort  Dummer  was  built  in  the  N.  W.  part 
of  New  England,  near  the  boundary  line  of  Massa- 
chusetts and  New  Hampshire.  It  was  named  in 
honor  of  Lieut.  Governor  Dummer,  and  was  for  the 
protection  of  the  new  settlements  in  that  quarter, 
from  the  French  and  Indians  in  Canada ;  who  then 
often  made  attacks  on  the  frontier  towns. 

1724.  A  law  was  passed  by  the  General  Court  of 
Massachusetts  to  retrench  the  expenses  of  funerals, 
which  were  a  great  tax  on  the  poorer  classes  of 
people.  There  was  much  drinking  and  feasting  af- 
ter the  funeral  service  was  over. — In  February  there 
was  an  unusually  severe  storm  and  gale,  when  the 
tide  rose  higher  by  two  feet  in  Boston,  than  was 
ever  before  known ;  and  at  Cape  Cod  four  feet  high- 
er.— In  the  lower  streets  in  Boston,  the  damage  was 
very  great. 

1724.  Singing  by  note  introduced  into  the 
churches  of  Massachusetts. 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


87 


1725.  Captain  Lovewell  of  Dunstable,  with  a 
small  party  of  men  met  the  Indians  and  killed  sev- 
eral of  them,  as  they  were  about  to  fall  on  the  Eng- 
lish settlements,  but  soon  after  was  attacked  unex- 
pectedly by  a  party  of  Indians,  near  the  site  of  Frye- 
burg,  and  was  killed;  with  most  of  the  men  un- 
der his  command, — An  article  was  added  to  the 
Massachusetts  charter,  giving  the  governor  power  to 
give  his  negative  to  a  speaker  chosen  by  the  House 
of  Representatives.  There  were  disputes  frequently 
at  that  time  between  the  representatives  and  the 
governor,  as  to  the  rights  and  powers  of  each  :  and 
the  dispute  continued  till  the  Revolution  in  1775. 
The  governors  demanded  a  fixed  and  permanent  sal- 
ary ;  and  they  were  so  instructed  by  the  administra- 
tion in  England  ;  but  the  House  declined  to  vote  for 
it ;  and  made  occasional  grants  for  their  support. 

The  ministers  of  Congregational  churches  in  Mas- 
sachusetts, at  their  annual  Convention  m  May  re- 
quested to  have  a  synod  called,  to  consult  on  the  er- 
rors and  sins  of  the  times  ;  the  council  advised  to  the 
measure ;  but  in  the  House  it  was  referred  to  the 
following  session.  Meanwhile  the  Episcopal  clergy 
opposed  it,  and  made  objections  in  England,  because 
of  the  power  of  the  Congregational  order.  The 
plan  was  disapproved  by  the  administration,  and  no 
synod  was  holden  as  had  been  proposed.  The  Epis- 
copalians wished  to  have  the  control  here  as  they 
had  in  England  ;  and  to  have  Episcopacy  the  es- 
tablished religion  in  America. 

1726.  Five  tribes  of  Indians  in  the  province  of 
New  York,  made  alliances  with  the  English  in  pref- 
erence to  the  French. 


88 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


1727.  EarthquakCj  which  extended  as  far  as 
Pennsylvania. 

1727.  Only  five  Episcopal  clergymen  in  Massa- 
chusetts. 

1727.  A  very  severe  earthquake  occurred  at  this 
time,  and  was  felt  in  all  parts  of  New  England as 
far  as  Philadelphia.  It  lasted  nearly  two  minutes. 
An  earthquake  was  also  felt  in  the  Island  Martinique. 
This  was  the  fifth  in  New  England,  after  1630. 

1727.  First  Episcopal  church  in  Massachusetts. 

1728.  A  work  House  built  in  Boston. 
1730.    A  Presbyterian  Church  in  Boston. 

1732.  Salem  contained  5,000  inhabitants,  and  its 
trade  was  extensive  and  prosperous.  This  year,  the 
first  newspaper  was  printed  in  Rhode  Island. 

1733.  An  Episcopal  church  formed  in  Salem. 
1733.    First  Lodge  of  Free  Masons  in  North 

America,  held  in  Boston. 

1735.  Massachusetts  had  35,500  white  males  up-> 
wards  of  16  years,  and  2600  negroes. 

Boston  was  this  year,  divided  into  12  wards. 

The  scarlet  fever  was  very  general  and  mortal  this 
year  in  various  parts  of  New  England. 

1735 — 6.  Scarlet  fever  and  sore  throat  prevail  in 
Massachusetts  Colony,  also  in  1747. 

1737.  Line  between  Mass.  and  N.  H.  settled. 

1738.  Treaty  with  the  Eastern  Indians. 

Line  drawn  between  New  Hampshire  and  Maine 
— and  between  New  Hampshire  and  Massachusetts. 

1740.    Land  Bank  formed  ;  but  proved  an  evil. 

1740.  Great  embarrassments  in  finances  of  the 
colony. 

1740.    Several  towns  in  Plymouth  county  set  olf 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


89 


to  Rhode  Island — Attleboro'  Gore,  Bristol,  Warren, 
Barrington,  Tiverton  and  Compton. 

1741.  60  fishing  vessels  in  Marblehead,  of  50 
tons  and  more. 

1741.  Whitejield  visited  America  and  New  Eng- 
land, and  was  very  popular — but  made  many  to  be 
dissatisfied  with  their  minister. 

1741.  William  Shirley  appointed  Governor  of 
Massachusetts,  in  place  of  Governor  Belcher  re- 
called. Belcher  had  been  a  Boston  merchant ;  and 
was  at  first  popular — but  defending  the  royal  prerog- 
ative and  orders,  when  the  General  Court  opposed, 
he  became  unpopular.  Shirley  was  an  English- 
man, but  a  practicing  attorney  in  Boston. — A  man  of 
talents,  generally  popular — an  able  General.  He  was 
several  years  engaged  in  the  war  against  the  French, 
from  1748  to  1758 — and  some  time  Commander-in- 
Chief  of  all  the  English  and  American  troops  in 
America. 

1742.  Ship  building,  trade,  and  fisheries  prosper- 
ous. 

1744.  Faneuil  Hall  built  by  the  bounty  of  Peter 
Faneuil. 

About  17,000  inhabitants  in  Boston. 

1745.  Ship  Massachusetts  built  at  Boston  of  400 
tons,  designed  to  carry  30  guns. 

1745.  Louisbourg  taken  in  June. — The  expe- 
dition was  conducted  by  General  W.  Pepperell,  of 
Kittery.  The  fleet  sailed  from  Boston,  in  March 
—3000  men,  and  upwards  from  Massachusetts — 500 
from  Connecticut — 300  from  New  Hampshire — ten 
vessels,  the  largest  had  twenty  guns.  The  British 
Admiral,  Warren,  joined  them  by  previous  request, 
8  ^ 


90 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


at  Cape  Breton. — It  was  considered  a  desperate,  or 
rash  measure,  by  many.  The  General  Court  ap- 
proved it  by  only  one  majority. 

1746.  Fort  Massachusetts,  in  the  north  part  of 
Berkshire,  taken  by  the  French  from  Canada. 

1747.  Great  Riot  in  Boston,  caused  by  the  im- 
pressment of  some  citizens  by  British  Admiral 
Knowles. 

1748.  Rhode  Island  contained  34,000  inhab- 
itants. 

1748.  500  vessels  cleared  from  Boston  for  foreign 
voyages  during  this  year,  and  430  entered,  besides 
fishing  and  coasting  vessels. 

1749.  A  female  negro  burnt  to  death,  and  a  male 
negro  hung  in  irons,  at  Cambridge,  for  poisoning 
their  master. 

1749.   A  society  in  Boston  for  promoting  industry. 
Foreign  artizans  were  encouraged  to  migrate  to 
N.  England. 

Great  drought  this  year  in  N.  England.  The 
people  suffered  much,  and  sent  to  Pennsylvania, 
and  even  to  England  for  hay. 

Theatrical  exhibitions  prohibited  by  a  law  of 
General  Court.  It  was  believed  that  they  had  a 
tendency  to  dissoluteness  and  extravagance. 

1749.  Putrid  sore  throat  prevailed  in  Massachu- 
setts. 

Treaty  made  with  Penobscot  and  other  eastern 
Indians. 

Entered  port  of  Boston  490  vessels  ;  504  cleared. 

1750.  Paper  money  ceased  as  a  currency  :  which 
had  been  in  use  fifty  years. — Specie  scarce ;  and 
great  financial  embarrassments. 


NEW  ENGLANI)  CHRONoLOdl^ 


^1. 


1750.  Iron  mills,  slitting  mills  forbid  to  be  built, 
and  all  bar  iron  to  be  imported.  Four  then  in  Prov- 
idence, 2  in  Middleboro,  1  in  Hanover,  and  1  in 
Milton. 

1750.  Numerous  malt  houses  in  Plymouth,  to 
this  time. 

1752,  New  Style  was  adopted.  The  year  now 
begun  January  first,  instead  of  25th  of  March.  The 
3d  of  September  was  reckoned  the  14th,  and  other 
days  afterwards  accordingly.  It  was  first  adopted 
by  Gregory  XIII,-  Pope  of  Rome ;  and  therefore 
called  the  Gregorian  style. 

1752.  Small  pox  raged  in  Boston.  About  5,500 
persons  had  the  disease  without  inoculation  and 
500  died.  2000  were  inoculated,  and  30  of  them 
died.    Whole  population  of  the  town  about  17,000. 

Franklin  invented  the  lightning  rods  this  year. 

1754.  A  printer  in  Boston  imprisoned  for  an  al- 
leged libel  on  the  General  Court. 

1755.  The  New  England  troops,  under  Major- 
General  John  Winslow,  took  several  places  from  the 
French  in  Nova  Scotia  or  Acadia. 

1754.  Governor  Shirley  erected  two  forts  on  Ken- 
nebec river. 

1754.  About  4500  negro  slaves  in  Massachu- 
setts, the  greatest  number  ever  known. 

1754.  Great  sickness  in  Holliston,  Massachu- 
setts :  one  eighth  of  the  inhabitants  died. 

Congress  at  Albany  to  treat  with  six  Indian 
tribes  :  and  to  consult  for  a  union  of  the  British  col- 
onies in  North  America. 

1754.    Forts  Western  built  at  Cushnoc,  Augusta^ 


92 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


and  Halifax  at  Sebastacook,  now  Winslow  :  both 
on  the  Kennebec. 

1755 — 1763.  Large  numbers  of  men  from  New 
England  engaged  in  war  againsts  the  French,  on  the 
borders  of  Canada,  and  in  Nova  Scotia,  and  by  their 
aid  the  French  were  conquered.  Many  died,  and 
the  expenses  were  great  to  the  colonies. 

1755.  Fort  Pownall  built  on  Ponobscot  river, 
and  commanded  by  Col.  Jedediah  Preble  some 
years. 

1755.  Fort  Edward  built  on  Lake  George,  by 
General  Lyman. 

1755.  Gen.  Braddock  defeated  on  a  branch  of 
the  Ohio,  and  Col.  Washington  distinguished  him- 
self. 

1755.  8000  men  in  military  service  in  Canada 
and  Nova  Scotia,  belonging  to  Massachusetts. 

1755 — Nov.  18.  A  great  earthquake  in  New 
England.  Many  chimnies  fell,  &c.,  it  was  called 
the  great  earthquake. 

1756.  Massachusetts  instructs  its  agent  in  Eng- 
land to  remonstrate  against  the  impressment  of  sea- 
men, by  British  commanders  of  ships-of-war  :  which 
was  sometimes  done  in  Boston  harbour.  In  Octo- 
ber, the  first  newspaper  was  published  in  New 
Hampshire,  at  Portsmouth.  Forts  Edward  and 
William  Henry  were  garrisoned  by  New  England 
men,  under  command  of  Major-General  John  Wins- 
low. 

1756.  Massachusetts  burthened  by  taxes,  arising 
from  military  expeditions  agamst  Nova  Scotia  and 
Canada. 

1756.     Massachusetts  oppressed  by  debt,  arising 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


93 


from  war  against  the  French  in  Canada.  But  still 
more  troops  were  raised  to  go  against  Canada. 
Parliament  paid  part  of  the  expenses,  Massa- 
chusetts could  raise  40,000. 

1756  <fc  7.  Massachusetts  furnished  from  5  to  7 
thousand  men  in  the  war  against  the  French.  Gen- 
eral John  WinsloWj  of  Plymouth,  commanded  them. 

1757.  Governor  Shirley  was  succeeded  by  Powri- 
all,  and  was  governor  about  two  years.  He  was 
popular  in  the  province,  and  an  advocate  for  all  its 
charter  rights. 

1758.  Capt.  H.  Atkins  of  Boston,  sailed  along 
the  coast  of  Labrador  and  made  discoveries. 

1758.  Louisbourg  taken  the  second  time  by  Gen- 
eral Wolfe.  It  had  been  restored  to  the  French  af- 
ter its  capture  in  1745. 

1759.  An  act  passed  General  Court  laying  a 
stamp  duty,  including  newspapers;  but  the  printers 
petitioned  to  be  excused,  which  was  granted. 

1759.  Quebec  taken  by  the  English,  under  com- 
mand of  General  Wolfe.  Canada  conquered  in  1760, 
by  General  Amherst. 

1760.  Canada  was  subdued  by  an  army  of  Brit- 
ish and  New  England  troops  under  General  Am- 
herst. 

1761.  Great  drought  and  fire  in  woods  in  New 
Hampshire  and  Maine,  very  destructive. 

1761.  The  British  parliament  ordered  a  reim- 
bursement to  Massachusetts,  for  its  extraordinary 
expenses  in  the  war  against  the  French  for  several 
years.  For  five  years,  the  province  had  expended 
large  sums  for  troops  raised  at  the  request  of  the 
king. 


94 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


1762.  Paper  made  in  Dorchester  and  Milton, 
and  chocolate  in  1767. 

1762.  Missionaries  from  Episcopalians  in  Eng- 
land— in  Massachusetts,  8  :  in  Connecticnt  16  :  in 
Rhode  Island,  4 : — and  many  located  where  other 
learned  ministers  were. 

1762.  Eighty-five  missionaries  (Episcopal)  in  the 
American  colonies,  supported  by  a  society  in  Eng- 
land ;  at  the  annual  expense  of  £3700,  most  of  them 
preached  in  old  settled  towns,  where  there  were 
learned  and  pious  congregational  ministers.  This 
conduct  gave  occasion  to  the  severe  remarks  of  Dr. 
Majhew,  who  shewed  that  this  was  a  perversion  of 
the  funds  of  the  society,  as  the  missionaries  should 
have  gone  to  the  native  Indians,  and  to  new  and 
destitute  settlements,  and  preached  the  gospel  and 
not  Episcopalianism. 

1763.  About  1000  Indians  in  Plymouth  colony. 
Blue  fish  which  had  been  on  the  coasts  of  New 
England,  disappeared  this  year. 

1763.  First  English  oration  at  Commencement 
in  Cambridge. 

Old  French  War,  so  called,  terminated  this  year, 
debt  of  province  very  great  and  taxes  heavy. 

1763.  The  wars  with  the  French  aud  Indians 
from  1754  to  62,  proved  very  distressing  to  the  people 
of  New  England  Provinces  ;  but  to  none  more  than 
to  Massachusetts.  A  large  part  of  the  American 
troops  were  in  the  field  during  that  period  from  this 
Province.  The  taxes  were  much  increased;  and 
many  of  the  men  who  went  into  the  army  died  of 
diseases  incident  to  a  camp.  The  settlement  of  the 
country  was  thus  greatly  impeded;  and  poverty  was 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


95 


the  lot  of  many  of  the  common  class  of  people.  In 
1763,  the  population  and  wealth  of  the  province  were 
about  the  same  as  ten  years  before.  But  after  the 
peace  made  in  that  year  it  advanced  rapidly  in  ag- 
riculture, in  trade  and  commerce  ;  and  other  depart- 
ments of  industry  felt  the  auspicious  influence. 

1763.  A  treaty  was  made  between  England  and 
France,  who  had  been  at  war  many  years,  in  which 
the  American  colonies  took  part.  The  inhabitants 
in  Massachusetts  were  236,000,  (5,200  negroes.) 

1763 — 1764.  Soon  after  the  peace,  the  British 
ministy  became  jealous  of  the  growing  resources  and 
power  of  the  provinces — -and  had  fears  of  their  being 
independent.  To  prevent  this,  they  endeavored  to 
check  and  cramp  the  colonies  Ijy  oppressive  taxes 
for  the  chief  advantage  of  the  parent  State — and  by 
acts  of  trade  and  navigation  designed  to  limit  their 
commerce ;  and  to  direct  to  such  channels,  that  its  ben- 
efits might  all  flow  into  the  treasury  of  Great  Britain. 

In  time  of  war,  1758  and  1763,  the  British  minis- 
try called  upon,  or  requested  the  colonies  to  raise 
men,  &c,  incurring  expense,  but  did  not  positively 
order  it  by  an  act. — It  was  a  recommendation,  and 
sometimes  they  declined. 

The  efforts  of  Massachusetts  and  some  other  col- 
onies, in  the  period  of  1700  and  1763,  especially  in 
1745,  1758  and  1759,  contributed  essentially  to  the 
safety  of  the  British  arms  in  North  America,  and 
without  that  aid,  Britain  could  not  have  over- 
come the  French,  and  obtained  large  territories 
claimed  by  that  nation. 

1763  '73.  "  No  people  have  been  more  jealous  of 
their  liberties  than  the  English.    Their  happy  con- 


96 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


stitution  cost  Ihem  much  blood  and  treasure  at  dif- 
ferent periods ;  but  they  have  not  purchased  it  at  too 
dear  a  rate."  The  people  in  the  English  colonies,  have 
cherished  the  same  regard  for  their  rights  and  liber- 
ties, and  have  been  always  ready  to  maintain  them 
at  any  expense,  and  at  every  cost  or  danger. 

1763  or  '4.  One  year  in  a  late  war,  Massachu- 
setts had  7000  men  out  at  times  to  defend  frontiers. 

Northern  Colonies  lost  more  than  7000  men,  in 
1743  and  '48. 

1764.  The  act  for  granting  certain  duties  in  the 
British  Colonies  in  America  was  passed  with  unu- 
sual haste,  and  the  agent  of  the  colonies  had  not  an 
opportunity  to  be  heard  while  it  was  before  Parlia- 
ment and  on  its  passage. 

1764.  Plan  of  British  Ministry  to  raise  a  revenue 
in  the  American  Colonies.  New  and  high  duties 
laid  on  molasses,  a  great  article  of  importation ;  and 
proposal  for  a  stamp  tax. 

In  November  of  this  year,  Massachusetts  General 
Court,  present  a  memorial  to  prevent  both.  This 
was  the  first  opposition  shown  in  America  to  British 
measures.  The  duty  was  laid  before  the  memorial 
reached  England,  and  was  continued. 

1764.  Hospitals  established  for  inoculation  of 
small  pox  in  Massachusetts.  The  expenses  of  the 
Province  for  the  year,  £24,500;  £1000  for  a  bounty 
on  wheat.    Indians  on  the  Vineyard  only  313. 

1764.  The  British  government  adopted  a  plan  to 
raise  a  revenue  from  the  colonies,  for  the  benefit  of 
the  parent  country,  by  way  of  imposts — and  in  1765, 
the  famous  stamp  act  was  passed,  for  a  tax  on  all 
legal  instruments,  as  deeds,  letters  of  attorney,  notes. 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


97 


&,c.,  the  money  thus  raised  to  be  applied  as  the  Brit- 
ish ministry  should  order,  and  to  be  lavished  on  place- 
men and  unnecessary  officers.  And  in  these  taxes, 
the  Representatives  or  General  Court  had  no  power 
and  no  voice.  This  plan  was  decidedlj^  and  zeal- 
ously opposed;  on  the  consideration  chiefly,  that  the 
people  of  the  colonies  were  not  represented  in  the 
British  parliament.  A  long  dispute,  as  to  the  right 
of  the  British  legislature  to  tax  the  people  in  Amer- 
ica followed;  the  administration  in  England  con- 
tinued their  arbitrary  measures,  and  attempted  to 
enforce  the  collection  of  a  revenue  by  the  mihtary. 
And  this  brought  on  the  Revolution  which  began  in 
1775, 

1764,  First  circular  letter  of  Massachusetts  to 
other  colonies  to  unite  in  remonstrating  against  taxes 
and  raising  a  revenue, 

1764.  Parliament  laid  a  high  duty  on  molasses 
imported  into  the  colonies. 

1764.  Power  given  to  commanders  of  British 
ships-of-war  to  seize  vessels  supposed  to  have  goods 
and  articles  subject  to  a  duty. — And  they  were  in 
many  instances  very  arbitrary  and  oppressive  in 
their  conduct.  The  effect  of  these  measures  on 
commerce  was  highly  injurious. — The  trade  be- 
tween the  colonies,  and  the  Spanish  and  French  set- 
tlements in  America  was  greatly  impeded  and  much 
lessened. 

The  high  duty  on  sugar  and  molasses  was  con- 
sidered oppressive  ;  and  great  complaints  were  made 
against  it ;  but  the  Stamp  act  was  a  direct  internal 
9 


98 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


tax ;  a  revenue  laid  hy  parliament,  which  was  on  a 
new  principle,  and  contrary  to  the  constitutional 
rights  of  Englishmen  ;  and  not  only  were  remon- 
strances made  against  both  the  act  and  the  policy, 
but  most  people  were  resolved  to  resist  its  execu- 
tion. 

1764.  When  the  impost  duties  were  raised,  the 
Stamp  act  proposed,  and  a  host  of  Custom  House 
officers  were  sent  to  Boston,  the  citizens  met  in 
Fanueil  Hall,  in  great  numbers,  to  remonstrate 
against  these  odious  measures.  The  agent  in  Eng- 
land from  Massachusetts  was  directed  to  remonstrate 
with  the  British  ministry.  They  stated  the  heavy 
debt  of  the  province,  and  expressed  their  opinion  of 
the  exclusive  rights  and  powers  of  the  people  in  the 
colonies  to  tax  themselves.  It  appears  that  Bos- 
tonians  took  the  lead  in  these  measures  of  remon- 
strance and  opposition.  They  instructed  their  rep- 
resentatives to  the  General  Court,  "to  use  their  ut- 
most influence  to  maintain  the  rights  and  privileges 
of  the  province  to  which  the  people  were  entitled  by 
charter,  and  as  the  freeborn  subjects  of  Great  Brit- 
ain, and  by  nature  or  the  God  of  nature  ;  to  preserve 
the  independence  of  the  House  of  Representatives, 
which  was  necessary  for  a  free  people ;  to  prevent 
new  and  heavy  duties  on  trade,  for  if  our  trade  may  be 
taxed,  why  not  our  lands,  without  the  consent  of  the 
Representatives;  but  we  insist  that  all  taxes  should 
belaid  by  them  ;  as  otherwise,  we  shall  be  no  better 
than  slaves.  There  was  a  vote,  also  by  the  citizens 
of  Boston,  to  have  the  House  of  Representatives  write 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


99 


to  other  colonies — and  this  was  probably  the  first 
proposition  of  the  kind  made  by  any  body  of  men  in 
the  colonies. 

1765.  Virginia  resolutions,  Massachusetts  reso- 
lutions, and  also  a  plan  for  General  Congress,  and  to 
write  to  other  colonies,  and  a  Congress  held  at  New 
York,  October  1765.  Another  proposed  by  Massa- 
chusetts, in  1767  and  1768,  for  which  the  General 
Court  was  dissolved.  Acts  in  Boston,  November 
1765,  on  account  of  stamps,  in  New  Hampshire, 
Rhode  Island,  Connecticut,  New  York,  Philadel- 
phia, Maryland,  Yirginia,  &c.  Adams'  Canon  and 
Feudal  law,  1765. 

1765.  Stamp  Act  now  passed  by  the  British  par- 
liament was  very  obnoxious  to  the  people  of  Massa- 
chusetts, and  some  mobs  took  place  :  The  stamp 
officer  was  hung  in  effigy,  and  his  office  torn  down. 
The  furniture  of  the  Lt.  Governor's  house  injured, 
and  his  library  partly  destroyed. 

1765.  The  Stamp  Act  was  passed,  for  the  purpose 
of  raising  money  for  the  crown.  The  opposition  to 
it  was  so  general  and  decided,  that  the  act  was  re- 
pealed in  1760. 

1765.  First  Congress  of  the  Colonies  at  New 
York  in  October,  to  devise  means  for  the  preserva- 
tion of  their  liberties. 

1765.  Said  a  Virginian,  The  right  of  exemp- 
tion from  all  taxes  without  their  consent,  the  colo- 
nies claim,  as  British  subjects.  They  derive  this 
right  from  the  common  law^  lohich  their  charters  have 
declared  and  confirmed ;  and  they  conceive,  that 
when  stripped  of  this  right,  whether  by  prerogative, 


100 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


or  any  other  power,  they  are  deprived  of  every  priv- 
ilege distinguishing  freemen  from  slaves.'^ 

It  was  a  question  with  the  ministry^  whether  par'- 
liament  could  impose  an  internal  tax  on  the  colonies 
for  a  revenue  alone? — -Yet  the  high  government  men 
said  it  was  undoubtedly  right,  and  ought  not  to  be 
made  a  question. 

1765.  At  the  September  session  of  the  General 
Court  of  Massachusetts,  the  following  spirited  and 
decided  Resolves  were  passed,  expressive  of  their 
sense  of  the  rights  of  the  Colonies  :  "  That  there  are 
certain  essential  rights  of  the  British  constitution  of 
government,  which  are  founded  in  the  laws  of  God 
and  nature ;  and  which  are  the  common  rights  of 
mankind  ;  that  therefore  the  inhabitants  of  this 
province  are  unalienably  entitled  to  those  essential 
rights  in  common  with  ail  men  ;  and  that  no  law  can, 
consistent  with  the  law  of  God  and  nature,  divest 
them  of  those  rights  :  That  no  man  can  justly  take 
the  property  of  another,  without  his  consent ;  and 
that  on  this  principle  the  right  of  representation  in 
the  body  which  exercises  the  power  of  making  laws 
for  levying  taxes,  which  is  one  of  the  main  pillars 
of  the  British  constitution,  is  evidently  founded  : 
That  this  inherent  right  with  all  other  essential 
rights,  liberties,  privileges,  and  immunities  of  the 
people  of  Great  Britain  have  been  fully  confirmed 
to  them  by  Magna  Charter,  and  by  various  acts  of 
Parliament  :  That  his  majesty's  subjects  in  America 
are,  in  reason  and  common  sense,  entitled  to  the 
same  extent  of  liberty  with  his  majesty's  subjects  in 
England  :  That  by  the  declaration  of  the  royal 
charter  of  this  province,  the  inhabitants  are  entitled 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY.  101 

to  all  the  rights,  liberties,  and  immunities  of  natural 
and  free  subjects  of  Great  Britain,  to  all  intents,  pur- 
poses, and  constructions  whatever :  That  these 
rights  belong  to  the  people  of  this  province,  on  prin- 
ciples of  common  justice  ;  their  ancestors  having 
settled  the  country  at  their  sole  expense,  and  their 
posterity  having  constantly  approved  themselves 
loyal  and  faithful  subjects  of  Great  Britain  :  That 
as  the  people  of  this  province  pay  their  full  propor- 
tion of  taxes  for  the  support  of  government  here,  it 
is  unreasonable  for  them  to  be  required  to  pay  any 
part  of  the  charges  for  the  government  there  :  That 
the  people  of  this  province  are  not,  and  never  can  be 
represented  in  the  parliament  of  Great  Britain  ;  and 
that  such  a  representation  there  as  the  subjects  in 
Great  Britain  do  actually  and  rightfully  enjoy,  is  im- 
practicable for  the  subjects  in  America — and  that  the 
subordinate  powers  of  legislation  in  America  were 
constituted  on  the  apprehension  of  such  impractica- 
bility :  That  the  only  method  whereby  the  constitu- 
tional rights  of  the  subjects  can  be  secure,  consistent 
with  a  subordination  to  the  supreme  power  of 
Great  Britain  is  by  the  continued  exercise  of  such 
powers  of  government  as  are  granted  in  our  charter, 
and  a  firm  adherence  to  the  privileges  of  the  same  : 
That  as  a  just  conclusion  from  the  foregoing  resolves 
all  the  laws  and  acts  made  by  any  power  whatever, 
other  than  the  general  assembly  of  the  province,  im- 
posing taxes  on  the  inhabitants,  are  infringements  of 
our  inherent  and  unalienable  rights,  as  men  and  sub-^ 
jects  of  Great  Britain,  and  render  void  the  most  val- 
uable declarations  of  our  charter."  These  resolves 
9^^ 


102 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


were  supposed  to  be  written  by  Samuel  Adams- 
James  Otis  was  then  in  New  York  ;  but  S.  Dexter 
and  T.  Gushing  were  on  the  committee  with  Mr. 
Adams.  Similar  resolutions  were  adopted  by  the 
House  of  Representatives  at  different  times  from  this 
time  to  1775. 

1766.  Parliament  declared  at  the  same  time  that 
they  had  a  right  to  legislate  for  the  colonies  and 
to  bind  them  in  all  cases  whatever.  This  was  a 
great  and  just  cause  of  complaint  in  the  colonies. 
Laws  were  to  be  made  for  them,  and  taxes  imposed 
upon  them,  without  their  voice,  or  the  voices  of  their 
representatives.  They  were  thus  denied  the  com- 
mon rights  of  Englishmen  :  and  they  were  resolved 
not  to  submit  to  such  a  doctrine  and  practice.  From 
this  time,  the  dispute  increased,  the  British  Ministry 
continued  and  increased  in  their  claims.  And  the 
colonies  resisted  the  claim,  and  contended  for  the 
same  degree  of  power,  which  their  ancestors  had 
exercised,  and  to  which  they  believed  they  were  en- 
titled both  by  charter  and  by  nature. 

1766.  One  million  of  dollars  worth  of  goods  im- 
ported. 

1766.  All  the  colonies  as  well  as  Massachusetts, 
complained  officially,  of  the  arbitrary  conduct  of  the 
British  government,  at  that  time.  The  high  duty 
on  molasses,  then  an  article  of  common  consumption, 
was  a  great  grievance. 

1767.  Tax  on  tea,  paper,  glass,  and  other  articles 
imported,  which  oppressed  and  provoked  the  people. 

1767.  Parliament  laid  a  duty  on  tea,  glass,  paper 
and  painter's  colours,  and  also  passed  an  act  for 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


103 


quartering  troops  in  Massachusetts  ;  a  law  of  great 
complaint,  and  resolutely  opposed — and  not  then 
executed. 

1767.  Custom  House  established  and  Board  of 
Commissioners  in  Boston. 

1767.  Extract  of  a  letter  from  a  citizen  of  dis- 
tinction in  a  southren  colon}^,  dated  Dec.  1767  : — 

The  liberties  of  our  common  country  appear  to  me 
at  this  moment  exposed  to  the  most  imminent  dan- 
ger. But  whenever  the  cause  cf  American  freedom 
is  vindicated.  I  look  to  the  province  of  Massachusetts 
Bay.  She  must,  as  she  has  hitherto  ^owq^  first  kin- 
dle the  sacred  flame,  which,  on  such  occasions,  must 
warm  and  Illuminate  this  continent.  Words  are 
wanting  to  express  my  sense  of  the  vigilance,  per- 
severance, spirit,  prudence,  resolution  and  firmness, 
with  which  your  province  has  distinguished  herself 
in  these  unhappy  times.  May  God  grant  her  noble 
labors  a  successful  issue.  Our  cause  is  that  of  the 
highest  dignity.  It  is  nothing  less  than  to  maintain 
the  liberty  with  which  Heaven  itself  hath  made  us 
free.  I  hope  it  will  not  be  disgraced,  in  any  colony, 
by  a  single  rash  act :  for  we  have  constitutional 
methods  of  seeking  redress ;  and  they  are  the  best 
methods." 

1768.  — Aug.  At  a  large  meeting  of  the  merchants 
of  Boston,  it  was  voted  not  to  send  any  further  or- 
ders for  goods  to  be  shipped  this  year ;  that  for  the 
year  next  ensuing,  they  would  not  send  for  nor  im- 
port, either  on  their  own  account,  nor  on  commis- 
sions ;  nor  purchase  of  any  factors,  or  others,  who 
may  import  any  kind  of  goods  or  merchandise  from 
Great  Britain,  except  salt,  and  other  articles  necessa- 


104 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


ary  to  carry  on  the  fisheries — It  was  also  voted,  not 
to  import  any  tea,  glass,  paper  or  paints,  until  the 
acts  imposing  duties  on  these  articles  should  be  re- 
pealed. 

1768.  The  General  Court  of  Mass.  addresses  all  the 
General  Assemblies  in  British  America  except  Can- 
ada and  Nova  Scotia,  on  the  subject  of  civil  rights 
and  liberties ;  for  which  Gov.  Barnard  dissolved 
them. 

A  Convention  was  held  in  Boston  Sept.  22d,  this 
year,  as  the  Court  was  dissolved,  who  agreed  not  to 
import  or  use  any  British  goods.  Two  Regiments 
of  British  troops  arrive  at  Boston  this  month  to  be 
stationed  in  Boston  ;  and  parts  of  two  Regiments  in 
November. 

1768.  The  intelligent  patriots  deemed  it  highly 
important  to  the  cause  of  rational  liberty,  and  to 
lessen  their  dependence  on  foreign  countries,  to  en- 
courage domestic  manufactures,  to  prevent  importa- 
tions of  all  luxurious  superfluities;  and  at  the  same 
time,  to  urge  to  habits  of  economy,  industry  and  so- 
briety. Nearly  a  million  dollars  worth  of  British 
goods  imported  into  Boston  in  1766  and  1767. 

Lord  Coke,  (formerly,)  said  Great  Britain  cannot 
tax  Ireland,  qina  milites  ad  Parliameniiim  non  mit- 
tunt — because  they  do  not  send  knights  to  the  (Brit- 
ish) parliament;  and  Sir  William  Jones  declared  to 
Charles  II,  that  he  could  no  more  grant  a  commis- 
sion to  raise  money  from  his  subjects  in  Jamaica, 
without  their  consent,  by  an  assembly,  than  they 
could  discharge  themselves  in  their  allegiance  to 
the  crown. 

1768. — June.    Officers  of  Customs  seized  a  sloop 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


105 


of  John  Hancock,  lying  at  his  wharf;  which  was  a 
store  vessel,  chiefly,  and  had  some  oil,  &c.^  on 
board,  as  there  was  not  room  for  it  in  the  store,  and 
towed  it  under  the  stern  of  the  Romney,  a  ship-of-war 
in  the  stream.  The  officers  were  desired  to  desist 
or  not  to  take  away  the  sloop  in  this  violent  way — 
for  there  would  be  no  force  used  by  the  owner  to  res- 
cue her  out  of  their  hands,  if  she  laid  at  the  wharf. 
They  carried  her  away  however  ;  and  this  excited 
the  ire  of  the  people,  and  who  soon  collected  ;  and 
some  violence  was  done  to  the  houses  of  Custom 
House  officers.  Officers  and  men  of  the  Romney  very 
insolent — and  had  just  before  impressed  two  men. 

Episcopacy  connected  with  British  political  power 
over  the  colonies. 

Parliament  was  asked  to  establish  an  Episcopate 
in  America  ;  an  admission  of  power  in  Parliament 
over  the  colonies  even  in  religious  matters,  (inde- 
pendency and  freedom  in  which  had  always  been 
contended  for  and  asserted  by  them,)  would  be  most 
impolitic  and  injurious,  and  Episcopalians  would 
then  be  likely  to  advocate  parliamentary  power  over 
the  colonies. 

1768.  Episcopalians,  both  in  America  and  Eng- 
land, friends  of  the  British  ministers  and  of  its  meas- 
ures ;  they  were  desirous  of  the  favors  of  the  British 
government. 

1768.  General  Court  wrote  a  circular  letter  to  the 
other  colonies  to  unite  in  remonstrances  against  the 
acts  of  parliament  for  laying  taxes  and  raising  a  rev- 
enue in  this  country :  and  in  asserting  their  civil 
rights.  The  court  was  required  to  rescind 
their  circular ;   but  they  refused,  and  were  dis- 


106 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


solved  hy  Governor  Barnard.  The  merchants 
agreed  to  import  no  goods  frorn  England  till 
the  revenue  laws  were  repealed.  A  convention  of 
delegates  from  all  the  towns  in  Massachusetts,  met 
in  Boston  to  consult  for  the  welfare  and  rights  of  the 
province.  British  troops  arrived  in  Boston,  in  Sep- 
tember and  Novemberj  nearly  two  regiments ;  to 
overaAve  the  people  and  to  enforce  the  arbitrary 
measures  of  the  administration  in  England.  Can- 
non were  placed  by  them  in  State  street,  near  the 
building  where  the  General  Court  met,  pointing  to 
the  door. 

1769.  A  writer  says,  Gov.  Barnard,  by  his  per- 
tinacity and  fondness  for  despotism,  has  irritated  the 
assembly,  and  urged  them  to  declare  their  opinions 
on  points  which  the  ministry  wished  to  have  been 
imdecided.  The  dispute  is  now  brought  to  a  crisis  ; 
as  the  assembly,  with  great  propriety,  refuse  to  grant 
money  by  direction  of  the  entire  estates  of  the  king- 
dom. The  Americans  have,  or  have  not,  a  right  to 
dispose  of  their  own  money  and  property  :  and  surely 
it  is  immaterial  to  them  whether  they  are  command- 
ed to  give  it  up,  by  one  part,  or  by  all  parts  of  the 
British  government.  The  ground  they  should  take 
boldly  and  firmly,  is  the  disposal  of  their  own 
money  and  property,  otherwise  from  the  universal 
prevalence  of  luxury,  corruption  and  dissipation  in 
this  kingdom,  we  shall  soon  be  broken  in  our  spirits 
and  bankrupted  in  our  fortunes.  The  people  of 
Massachusetts  have  resolved  like  freemen^ 

1769.  Acts  of  parhament  for  carrying  to  England 
for  trial,  any  person  accused  of  treason  or  opposition 
to   government  officers  or  laws  of  revenue :  also 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


107 


to  raise  a  revenue  in  America,  for  the  purpose  of 
distribution  among  placemen  and  custom  house  offi- 
cers. 

1769.  A  citizen  of  another  colony  wrote  his 
friends  in  Boston  :  I  congratulate  you  on  being 
once  more  allowed  a  House  of  Commons,  in  your 
province ;  and  am  glad  to  find  that  true  old  English 
spirit  for  liberty,  their  peculiar  characteristic,  still 
reigns  in  their  breasts." 

1769.  A  vindication  of  the  proceedings  of  Bos- 
tonians  was  published,  showing  the  complaints 
made  against  them  unreasonable,  and  their  conduct 
to  be  loyal  and  constitutional. 

1769.  Rhode  Island  College  founded  at  Warren, 
by  the  Baptists  ;  afterwards  removed  to  Providence. 
Old  Colony  Club  at  Plymouth  formed,  to  commemo- 
rate the  landing  of  the  pilgrim  fathers  at  that  place 
in  1620. 

1769.  The  inhabitants  of  Boston  sent  a  petition 
to  the  king  stating  their  grievances,  and  praying  for 
a  continuance  of  their  former  rights  and  powers. 

1770.  Governor  Pownall's  speech  in  Parliament. 

1770.  The  merchants  renewed  their  non-import- 
ation agreement  of  1768.  The  use  of  tea  was  gen- 
erally laid  aside. — The  British  troops  fired  on  the 
defenceless  citizens  of  Boston,  and  killed  three,  and 
five  were  wounded ;  two  of  them  mortally.  The 
soldiers  had  long  been  abusive  and  insolent — they 
had  then  recently  attacked  some  mechanics,  and 
were  resisted.  In  the  evening  of  March  .5th,  the 
quarrel  became  very  serious  and  alarming — and  some 
of  the  people,  but   chiefly  of  the  younger  class, 


108 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


when  threatened,  attacked  the  guard  with  snow  and 
ice — others  came  to  their  protection  ;  and  being  also 
so  attacked  in  the  same  manner,  fired  on  the  people, 
and  the  death  of  several  was  the  disastrous  result. 
Some  considered  the  firing  to  be  in  self-defence, 
while  others  viewed  it  as  unnecessary,  wanton,  mur- 
derous. This  year  the  General  Court  was  removed 
to  Cambridge,  and  there  held  several  sessions,  al- 
though they  protested  against  it  as  an  arbitrary  act 
in  the  governor. 

177  0.  Tea  entirely  given  up  in  Boston  and 
through  the  province.  The  massacre,  &c.  British 
goods  imported  and  sent  back.  Capt.  Preston  and 
his  men  had  a  trial  for  murder,  and  acquitted,  except 
that  two  were  convicted  of  manslaughter. 

1770.  March  5th,  in  the  evening,  a  riot  in  Boston 
and  five  of  the  citizens  were  shot  by  the  British 
troops.  By  urgent  and  repeated  request  of  the  citi- 
zens, the  troops  were  removed  to  the  Castle. 

April,  Duties  removed  from  paper  and  glass,  and 
some  other  articles,  but  not  from  tea.  The  use  of 
this  was  therefore  discontinued  in  Massachusetts. 

May,  A  cargo  of  English  goods  which  arrived, 
was  sent  back,  in  pursuance  of  the  non-importation 
agreement. 

May,  General  Election  was  held  in  Cambridge  by 
order  of  Lieut.  Governor  Hutchinson  ;  which  was 
considered  an  arbitrary  act  ;  and  the  whig  citizens 
celebrated  the  day  in  Boston. 

September,  The  Lieut.  Governor  gives  up  the 
castle  to  the  commander  of  the  British  troops,  and 
pretends  he  had  no  control  of  them ;  thus  allowing 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


109 


the  military  in  the  province  to  be  superior  to,  or  in- 
dependent of  the  civil  power.  This  was  the  cause 
of  great  complaint. 

1771.  Mr.  Hutchinson  was  appointed  governor, 
and  proved  to  be  an  apologist  and  almost  invariably 
an  advocate  for  the  arbitrary  measures  of  the  Brit- 
ish ministry.  He  contended,  that  as  the  charter  was 
granted  by  the  king,  he  could  alter  it  or  withdraw  it 
at  his  pleasure.  The  whigs  of  that  day  insisted  that 
they  had  as  great  and  equal  liberty  with  the 
subjects  in  England ;  and  that  such  was  the  design 
of  the  charter  ;  and  that  they  had  not  violated  any 
part  of  it ;  that  it  recognized  their  right  to  have  a 
house  of  deputies  to  tax  them  and  make  laws  for 
them ;  that  they  had  settled  the  colony  at  great  cost 
and  personal  dangers  and  sufferings — that  they  de- 
sired no  new  power,  but  the  continuance  of  such  as 
their  ancestors  had  always  enjoyed  and  exercised. 

1772.  A  committee  of  the  General  Court  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, was  chosen  to  correspond  with  the  Legis- 
lative assemblies  of  the  other  colonies. 

1772.  A  British  armed  vessel  burnt  by  a  mob 
near  Newport,  Rhode  Island. 

1773.  Governor  Hutchinson  told  the  House  of 
Representatives  they  must  entirely  and  in  all  cases 
submit  to  the  king  and  parliament,  or  allow  they 
were  for  independence.  They  denied  the  right 
of  parliament  to  tax  and  to  legislate  for  them, 
they  impugned  its  power  over  them,  but  acknowl- 
edged allegiance  to  the  king  ;  at  the  same  time 
claiming  the  right  of  self-government  in  all  internal 
affairs. 

1773.    300  schooners  in  Gloucester,  and  about  as 
10 


110 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


many  in  Marblehead,  and  nearly  three  thousand 
men  in  each  town,  seamen. 

1773.  Several  cargoes  of  tea  were  destroyed  by  a 
mob  ;  after  various  applications  to  the  consignees 
and  to  the  governor,  to  order  it  back,  and  after  waiting 
three  days  for  an  order  to  have  it  returned  to  Eng- 
land— but  no  person  was  attacked  or  abused,  and 
no  injury  done  to  the  ships  or  any  other  property. 

1773  and  '4.  Tea  also  destroyed,  (burnt,)  in 
Virginia  some  time  this  year. 

The  business  of  navigation  was  large  in  Boston  at 
this  time.    Nearly  600  vessels  entered  the  port. 

1773.  General  Court  petition  the  king  to  remove 
Governor  Hutchinson  and  Lieut.  Governor  Oliver. 

November.  A  Committee  of  correspondence  chosen 
in  Boston,  and  soon  after  in  other  towns  in  the  Prov- 
ince, and  throughout  most  of  the  Colonies. 

1773.  Very  great  anxiety  was  now  manifested  by 
the  people  generally  ;  and  opposition  to  the  policy  and 
measures  of  the  British  government  increases.  The 
people  appear  ready  to  resist,  if  their  remonstrances 
proved  vain.  But  they  seldom  resorted  to  mobs  or  vio- 
lence. 

Line  between  Massachusetts  and  New  York  run 
by  commissioners,  but  not  finally  adjusted  till  1787. 

The  vessels  entered  in  Boston  this  year  587,  and 
cleared  411. 

1773.  Pownall  did  not  agree  with  Hutchinson, 
when  he  said,  the  power  of  parliament  over  the  col- 
onies was  unlimited,  or  it  had  no  power,  and  the 
colonies  were  independent.  Pownall  contended  the 
parliament  had  power,  in  most  cases,  or  to  a  certain 
extent ;  yet  not  so  as  to  interfere  with  all  the  rights 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY^ 


111 


and  privileges  which  the  colonies  claimed,  and  were 
founded  on  constitutional  principles.  But  some  of 
these  were  denied  ;  as  they  were  believed  not  to 
belong  to  a  colony,  or  a  legislative  assembly 
subordinate  to  the  British  parliament  as  supreme. 
America  was  said  to  be  without  the  realm,  and 
thus  denied  English  rights,  6cc. — and  yet  parliament 
claimed  a  right  to  govern  the  colonies  in  all  cases. 

Lord  Chatham  and  some  others  in  England  con- 
demned these  arbitrary  and  oppressive  measures  of 
the  government  ;  they  wished  to  withdraw  the 
troops  from  Massachusetts,  and  repeal  the  high 
duties,  &c. ;  ''I  plead  not  for  indulgence  but 
(ov  justice  to  ihe  Americans,"  said  Mr.  Pitt,  ^^Let 
the  sacredness  of  their  property  remain  inviolate  ; 
let  it  be  taxable  only  by  their  own  consent,  given 
by  their  Representatives  in  their  General  Court. 
Three  millions  of  people,  the  descendents  of  a  brave 
and  pious  ancestry  cannot  be  conquered.  They 
have  been  condemned  unheard  :  But  the  glorious 
spirit  of  whigism  animates  three  millions  in  Ameri- 
ca, who  prefer  poverty  with  Liberty,  to  gilded  chains 
and  sordid  affluence,  and  who  are  ready  to  die  in 
defence  of  their  rights  as  freemen. 

1774. — May.  Governor  Hutchinson  was  succeed- 
ed  by  General  Gage,  who  was  better  fitted  to  head 
troops,  to  enforce  the  arbitrary  laws  of  parliament, 
and  to  put  down  all  opposition.  Hutchinson  sailed 
for  England  in  May.  The  Boston  Port  bill,  to  shut 
up  the  port  of  Boston,  and  prevent  all  trade  and  nav- 
igation there,  was  now  adopted  by  parliament.  The 
vessels,  usually  trading  there,  went  to  Salem  and 
Marblehead.     This  was  an  odious  measure.  The 


112 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


citizens  of  Boston,  and  many  other  towns  re- 
monstrated against  it — and  passed  spirited  resolu- 
tions referring  to  it.  The  charter  of  Massachusetts 
was  altered  by  act  of  parliament,  abridging  the  powers 
of  the  General  Court,  and  taking  away  their  right 
to  elect  their  councillors. 

The  General  Congress,  assembled  at  Philadelphia, 
in  September  1774.  There  were  delegates  from  all 
the  colonies.  The  meeting  of  committees  from  sev- 
eral colonies,  at  New  York,  in  October  1765,  had 
similar  objects  in  view  ;  to  consult  for  the  liberties 
and  rights  of  the  country,  and  to  unite  in  praying 
the  king  and  parliament  to  give  up  their  plan  of  tax- 
ing America.  This  was  not  continued,  but  that  of 
1774,  at  Philadelphia  was  continued,  till  the  Fed- 
eral government  was  established  in  April  1789. 

1774 — 5.  There  were  three  provincial  congresses 
held  in  Massachusetts,  composed  of  delegates  from 
every  town  in  the  Province.  The  first  met  at  Con- 
cord, October  11th  ;  the  second  at  Cambridge,  Feb. 
1st,  which  was  the  longest  in  session,  being  till  the 
29th  of  May ;  and  the  third  Congress  was  at  Water- 
town,  May  31st.  The  number  was  upwards  of  two 
hundred  and  forty.  John  Hancock  of  Boston  was 
chosen  President.  Measures  were  adopted  or  pro- 
posed at  these  meetings  for  the  defence  and  safety  of 
the  Province;  for  the  determination  was  to  act  only 
on  the  defensive  at  first. 

At  the  session  in  Watertown,  June  1st,  there  was 
a  convention  of  the  congregational  clergy  of  Massa- 
chusetts ;  and  they  formally  preferred  their  services 
to  the  colony,  as  chaplains  to  accompany  the  militia, 
if  called  into  the  field.    In  their  letter  to  Dr.  Joseph 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


113 


Warren,  then  President  of  the  Provincial  CongresSj 
they  say,  "  Deeply  impressed  with  sympathy  for  the 
distresses  of  onr  much  injured  and  oppressed  country, 
we  are  not  a  little  relieved,  in  beholding  the  represen- 
tatives of  the  people,  chosen  by  their  free  and  unbi- 
assed suffrages,  now  met  to  concert  measures  for  their 
relief  and  defence,  in  whose  wisdom  and  integrity, 
under  the  smiles  of  Providence,  we  cannot  but  ex^ 
press  our  entire  confidence." 

1774.  By  act  of  parliament  the  port  of  Boston 
was  shut  up  and  all  entrances  and  clearances  of  ves- 
sels prohibited.  Vessels  were  obliged  to  enter  the 
ports  of  Salem  and  Marblehead. 

The  Governor  is  Captain,  General,  and  Command- 
er-in-chief of  the  province. — It  was  therefore  against 
law  to  send  out  military  officers,  who  were  not  un- 
der control  of  the  civil  government  and  of  the  legis- 
lative power,  as  was  now  done,  and  before. 

1774,  (and  in  1768  also.)  attempts  were  made  in 
the  General  Court  to  prevent  the  slave  trade.  The 
governor  was  instructed  by  the  British  ministry  to 
oppose  such  a  law.-^The  whale  fishery,  which  had 
been  pursued  on  the  coast  and  to  the  north,  near 
Newfoundland  and  Labrador,  was  now  extended 
to  the  Faulkland  Islands. — Governor  Hutchinson 
sailed  for  England  in  May  :  and  General  Gage  suc^ 
ceeded  him. 

1774.  A  union  of  the  colonies  was  not  appre- 
hended by  the  British  ministry — so  various  were 
their  tenets,  views,  manners,  and  religious  forms. — 
In  1764,  Governor  Pownall  said  it  need  not  be  ex- 
pected. It  was  hardly  probable  the  colonists  carried 
with  them  the  common  law  of  England — but  some 
10  ^ 


114 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


made  laws  contrary  to  the  principles  of  the  common 
law,  and  contrary  to  their  charters. 

1774.  Governor  Gage  dissolved  General  Court  in 
June. — September  2d,  issued  precepts  for  the  choice 
of  a  new  House  of  Representatives  to  meet  in  Octo- 
ber ;  but  afterwards  forbid  their  meeting  by  procla- 
mation. Ninety,  however  met  at  Salem,  and  re- 
solved themselves  into  a  Provincial  Congress ;  and 
adjourned  to  Concord  on  the  11th,  where  two  hun- 
dred and  eighty-eight  assembled,  and  John  Hancock 
was  chosen  President. — Measures  for  defence  were 
adopted,  and  in  December,  the  10th,  adjourned  to 
Watertown. 

1774.  Pitt  said,  the  papers  prepared  and  pub- 
lished by  the  first  American  Congress,  were  able, 
firm,  wise,  &c. 

1774.  Preparations  by  the  Provincial  Congress  of 
Massachusetts,  for  defence  by  forcible  resistance,  if 
the  British  troops  should  attempt  to  compel  submis- 
sion :  and  the  authority  of  governor  Gage  disowned, 
as  the  charter  had  been  violated,  and  the  consti- 
tional  powers  of  the  people  abridged. 

1774.  In  August,  September  and  October,  Con- 
ventions were  held  in  most  counties  in  Massachu- 
setts. Those  in  Suffolk,  (then  including  Norfolk,) 
Essex,  Middlesex,  Worcester  and  Plymouth,  were 
very  numerous  ;  and  the  delegates  the  most  respect- 
able men  from  each  and  every  town.  Dr.  Joseph 
Warren  was  one  of  the  delegates  from  Boston. — 
He  was  Chairman  or  President  of  the  Convention  ; 
which  first  met  at  Dedham,  and  then  at  Milton.  A 
copy  of  their  report  and  resolves  were  forwarded  to 
the  General  Congress,  by  whom  they  were  approved 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


115 


and  recommended  ;  and  placed  on  their  records.  It 
was  resolved,  that  the  late  measures  of  the  British 
government  were  dictated,  not  by  justice  or  wisdom, 
but  by  mere  power,  and  a  spirit  of  vengeance.  That 
on  the  wisdom,  fortitude  and  efforts  of  the  present 
day,  depends  the  fate  of  this  new  world,  and  of  un- 
born millions  for  ages  to  come.  If  we  tamely  sub- 
mit to  the  will  of  licentious  rulers,  and  basely  yield 
to  arbitrary  power,  future  generations  will  load  our 
memories  with  incessant  execrations  ;  but  if  we  ar- 
rest the  hands  which  would  grasp  our  honest  gains, 
if  we  manfully  resist  the  unconstitutional  usurpa- 
tion of  power  put  forth  to  enslave  us,  posterity  will 
acknowledge  the  virtue  which  preserved  them  free 
and  happy.  We  are  determined  to  act  on  the  de- 
fensive, so  long  as  our  conduct  may  be  justified  by 
reason  of  the  principles  of  self-preservation,  and  no 
longer.  We  earnestly  recommend  the  people  to 
avoid  all  riots  and  licentious  attacks  on  persons  and 
property  :  but,  by  a  steady  and  manly  opposition,  to 
convince  our  enemies,  that  in  a  contest  so  important, 
a  cause  so  solemn,  our  conduct  shall  be  such  as  to 
merit  the  approbation  of  the  wise,  and  the  admira- 
tion of  the  brave  and  free,  in  every  age  and  coun- 
try." 

1774  General  Gage,  who  succeeded  Governor 
Hutchinson  in  May,  was  very  arbitrary  m  his  con- 
duct ;  he  gave  his  negative  to  a  large  number  of  Coun- 
sellors, and  ordered  the  court  to  be  holden  in  Salem. 

The  Counsellors  now  first  appointed  by  the  king. 
Several  of  them  declined  to  act  or  take  the  oath  re- 
quired. When  the  Representatives  met  at  Salem, 
they  chose  five  delegates  to  attend   a  Continen- 


116 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


tal  Congress,  viz.  Thomas  Gushing,  James  Bowdoin, 
Samuel  Adams,  John  Adams,  and  R.  T.  Paine.  The 
Congress  was  held  at  Philadelphia  in  September. 

P.  Randolph  of  Virginia,  was  first  president  of 
Congress,  J.  Hancock  the  second. 

A  Provincial  Congress  was  also  proposed  and  in 
October  met  at  Salem,  and  adjourned  to  Concord, — 
composed  of  nearly  three  hundred  delegates;  who 
voted  to  prepare  for  defence  if  attacked  by  British 
troops. 

1775 — 6.  Many  of  the  graduates  of  Harvard, 
Brown,  and  Yale  Colleges  engaged  in  the  cause  of 
liberty.  Probably  two  hundred  either  in  the  cabinet 
or  field.  Of  the  Sons  of  Harvard  there  were  up- 
wards of  one  hundred  and  fifty:  those  not  in  the 
cabinet  were  officers  in  the  army.  The  president 
and  all  the  professors  and  tutors  were  whigs,  except 
one.  So  it  was  with  the  congregational  clergy  of 
Massachusetts,  then  probably  five-sixths  of  the  min- 
isters in  the  Province  ;  they  were  decided  friends  to 
the  cause  of  civil  liberty,  and  many  were  chaplains 
in  the  army.  In  1775,  when  the  American  army 
was  stationed  in  Cambridge,  the  instruction  of  the 
scholars  was  at  Concord,  and  the  teachers  and  pu- 
pils resided  there  nearly  a  year.  The  class  which 
entered  in  1775,  and  was  graduated  in  1779,  was 
very  small,  only  twenty ;  and  those  of  1780,  and 
1781,  were  also  small,  thirty  and  twenty-seven. 
The  graduates  in  1771 — 1777,  were  generally  up- 
wards of  forty  annually. 

1775. — July.  The  General,  or  Continental  Con- 
gress published  a  declaration  and  address,  in  which 
they  say  :  "  The  British  government  has  attempted 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


iir 


to  effect  their  unjust  and  cruel  purpose  of  enslaving 
these  colonies  by  violence,  and  have  made  it  neces- 
sary for  us  to  appeal  to  arms, — our  forefathers  left 
their  native  land,  to  seek  on  these  shores,  a  residence 
for  civil  and  religious  freedom  :  at  the  expense  of 
their  blood,  and  hazard  of  their  fortunes,  without 
charge  to  their  native  country,  or  its  government, 
they  effected  settlements  in  the  distant  and  inhospit- 
able wilds  of  America. 

"  Parliament,  within  eleven  years,  has  adopted  a 
new  course  towards  us,  and  assumed  and  adopted 
new  powers  over  the  colonies.  It  has  undertaken  to 
give  and  grant  our  money,  without  our  consent  ;  to 
give  new  powers  to  Courts  of  Admiralty,  and  to 
take  away  the  inestimable  rights  of  trial  by  jury  in 
many  cases  ;  and  to  dissolve  our  General  Courts;  to 
suspend  all  trade  and  navigation  between  the  - 
colonies  ;  to  station  troops  in  our  populous  towns, — 
And  it  even  claims  a  right  to  bind  us  in  all  cases 
whatever.  We  saw  the  misery  to  which  sych  des- 
potism would  reduce  us — and  for  ten  years,  incess- 
antly besought  the  throne  as  suppliants.  We  re- 
monstrated and  reasoned  with  parliament,  in  the 
most  mild  and  decent  manner.  Sensible  that  we 
should  regard  these  measures  as  freemen  ought  to 
do,  the  British  administration  sent  over  fleets  and 
armies  to  enforce  them.  The  indignation  of  the 
Americans  was  roused,  it  is  true  ;  but  it  was  the  in- 
dignation of  a  virtuous,  loyal  and  affectionate  people. 

A  Congress  of  delegates  from  all  the  united  colonies 
assembled,  (Sept.  1774,  and  in  May  1775.)  They 
petitioned  the  king  again  in  a  humble  and  dutiful 
manner ;  and  we  have  pursued  everv  temperate,  every 


118 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


respectful  measure. — In  a  word,  some  of  these  colo- 
nies now  feel,  and  the  others  have  cause  to  fear,  the 
calamities  of  fire,  sword  and  famine.  We  are  re- 
duced to  the  alternative  of  choosing  an  uncondition- 
al submission  to  the  tyranny  of  irritated  ministers, 
or  resistance  by  force.  The  latter  is  our  choice. 
We  have  counted  the  cost  of  this  contest ;  and  find 
nothing  so  dreadful  as  voluntary  slavery.  Honor, 
justice  and  humanity  forbid  us  tamely  to  surrender 
that  freedom,  which  we  have  received  from  our  gal- 
lant fathers,  and  which  our  innocent  posterity  have 
a  right  to  receive  from  us. — Our  cause  is  just,  our 
union  is  perfect,  our  internal  resources  are  great,  and 
wo  may  no  doubt  find  aid  from  foreign  nations,  if  it 
should  be  necessary. 

"  Before  God  and  the  world,  we  solemnly  declare 
that,  exerting  those  powers  which  our  benificent 
Creator  hath  graciously  bestowed  on  us,  the  arms  we 
have  been  compelled  to  assume,  we  will  employ, 
with  unabating  firmness  and  perseverance,  for  the 
preservation  of  our  liberties;  being  with  one  mind 
resolved  to  die  freemen  rather  than  to  live  slaves. 
In  our  own  native  land,  in  defence  of  the  freedom 
which  is  our  birth-right,  and  which  we  and  our 
fathers  have  hitherto  enjoyed,  we  have  taken  up 
arms.  We  shall  lay  them  down  when  hostilities  on 
the  part  of  our  agressor  shall  cease,  and  not  be- 
fore." 

July  20th.  By  recommendation  of  Congress,  this 
day  was  observed  as  a  public  Fast;  being  the  first 
general  or  continental  fast  ever  kept  on  the  same  day. 

1775.    Bostonians  suffered  much  while  the  British 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


119 


troops  were  in  Boston  in  177 A— 5  and  1775—6,  but 
received  generous  donations  from  various  places  : 
and  from  most  towns  in  the  province. 

1775 — April  and  May.  Most  of  the  inhabitants 
of  Boston  retired  into  the  country  towns. 

1775.  The  Provincial  Congress  set  at  Cambridge 
early  in  February  :  and  further  defensive  measures 
were  adopted ;  and  resolves  passed  not  to  sub- 
mit to  the  new  laws  of  parliament,  which  were 
deemed  subversive  of  their  charter  rights. — The 
authority  of  General  Gage  was  renounced  ;  miUtary 
officers  appointed,  and  military  stores  collected. — 
A  House  of  Representatives  recommended,  which 
should  choose  counsellors,  and  a  temporary  govern- 
ment thus  formed. 

1775. — June.  At  Machias,  Foster  and  O'Brien 
bravely  attacked  a  British  vessel  sent  there  from 
Boston,  to  carry  wood  and  lumber  for  the  use  of 
General  Gage's  army  in  Boston ;  the  master  of  the 
vessel  was  killed,  two  of  the  inhabitants  were 
slain  ;  the  British  vessel  was  taken. 

1775. — Oct.  Bristol,  in  Rhode  Island  was  can- 
nonaded by  a  British  squadron,  and  several  dwell- 
ing houses  and  public  buildings  were  burnt. — Some 
of  them  landed  near  that  town,  and  took  away  sheep. 
Falmouth,  now  Portland,  was  burnt  the  same 
month,  by  another  British  vessel-of-war. 

Nov.  Captain  Manly  of  Marblehead  took  a  Brit- 
ish vessel  with  military  stores  and  ordnance  ;  which 
were  of  great  importance  to  the  American  army. 

Dec.  The  colonies  declared  by  parliament  to  be 
in  a  state  of  rebellion. 


120 


NEW  ENGLAiND  CHRONOLOGY. 


1775. — June.  Battle  on  Long  Island,  and  many 
Massachusetts  troops  engaged. 

1775 — 1776.  Many  troops  from  New  England 
were  employed  against  Canada. 

1775 — July  3d.  General  Washington  took  com* 
mand  of  the  American  troops  at  Cambridge  and  vi* 
cinity.    He  arrived  on  the  2d. 

1775. — June.  The  royal  mercy  offered  to  all,  on 
submission,  but  Samuel  Adams  and  Mm  Hancock. 
The  bravery  exhibited  by  American  troops  June  17th 
in  the  battle  of  Charlestown,  put  the  British  troops 
in  Boston  in  fear ;  and  they  made  no  attack  on  the 
American  army  at  Cambridge.  Nor  attempted  to 
march  into  the  country.  The  American  troops  were 
poorly  disciplined  and  poorly  armed.  The  enlist- 
ments were  usually  for  a  short  time.  In  May  1775, 
for  eight  months.  In  1776,  for  one  year;  in  1777, 
for  three  years ;  but  some  for  the  war.  And  for  most 
of  the  time,  they  were  poorly  paid  and  poorly 
clothed. 

March,  Another  Act  of  Parliment  to  alter  the 
charter  of  Massachusetts.  The  king  made  the 
Governor  and  Judges  dependent  on  the  Crown  for 
their  salaries. 

May,  General  Congress  met  again  at  Philadelphia 
and  published  an  able  and  full  statement  of  griev- 
ances and  of  their  rights. 

September  16,  Very  spirited  resolves  passed  by  a 
Convention  of  Suffolk  county  held  at  Milton,  in  fa- 
vor of  liberty  approved  by  Continental  Congress. 

1775.  Boston  Neck  fortified  in  the  beginning  of 
this  year. 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


121 


Contributions  made  by  the  inhabitants  of  Mon- 
treal for  the  reUef  of  Boston. 

The  inhabitants  of  Boston  mostly  retire,  and  it  is  in 
the  hands  of  a  British  army. 

April  19th.  The  British  troops  were  sent  to  Lex- 
ington and  Concord,  to  seize  military  stores  collected 
there.  They  met  a  few  militia  under  arms,  at  Lex- 
ington, fired  on  them,  and  killed  or  wounded  many. 
At  Concord,  they  were  opposed  by  the  militia,  who 
being  attacked,  returned  the  fire.  The  British  re- 
treated to  Boston,  and  were  closely  pursued  by  the 
militia.  Many  were  killed  on  both  sides.  Soon 
after,  a  large  number  of  the  militia  collected  at  Cam- 
bridge, under  Gen.  Ward  of  Shrewsbury,  to  the 
amount  of  13,000,  but  poorly  armed  ;  and  some  from 
New  Hampshire,  Connecticut,  and  Rhode  Island, 
assembled  at  Cambridge  and  Roxbury,  and  besieged 
the  British  troops  in  Boston. 

May.  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  on  Lake 
Champlain,  taken  by  the  Americans  under  Allen, 
Arnold,  &c. 

May  12th.  Massachusetts  declared  by  Governor 
Gage,  to  be  in  a  state  of  rebellion. 

June  17th.  Battle  of  Bunker  Hill;  British  lost 
upwards  of  1450  ;  the  Americans  350. 

July  3d.  Washington  took  command  of  the  troops 
at  Cambridge. 

House  of  Representatives  chosen  in  Massachusetts, 
and  they  chose  the  Council  and  the  Executive 
Branch  of  Government. 

July  20.  A  public  Fast  throughout  the  Colonies. 

August.  Paper  money  issued. 

September.  Gen.  Gage  returned  to  England,  and 
11 


122 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


Gen.  Howe  took  the  chief  command  of  the  British 
troops. 

October.  Falmouth  in  Maine,  and  Bristol  in  Rhode 
Island,  attacked  by  British  ships  of  war  and  much 
damage  done. 

November.  Several  privateers  fitted  out,  and  a 
number  of  British  ships  taken. 

November.  Gen.  Montgomery  took  Montreal  and 
proceeded  to  Quebec,  was  there  joined  by  the  troops 
which  went  from  Cambridge  by  way  of  Kennebec. 

December.  In  the  attack  on  Quebec,  Montgomery 
was  killed,  and  the  Americans  were  defeated. 

1776.  February.  Saltpetre  and  powder,  ordered 
to  be  manufactured  ;  and  two  powder  mills  built  in 
Massachusetts. 

1776.  When  the  main  American  army,  under 
Washington,  went  to  New  York  to  meet  the  enemy, 
he  left  a  regiment  to  guard  Boston  harbour ;  and 
there  was  also  a  regiment  raised  by  the  State  for 
the  same  purpose. 

1776. — July  4th.  The  Continental  Congress 
solemnly  declared  the  thirteen  colonies  or  provinces, 
by  the  style  of  the  United  States,  to  be  free,  sovereign 
and  independent — wholly  separate  from,  and  inde- 
pendent of  the  British  government  and  nation.  John 
Adams  of  Massachusetts,  and  Roger  Sherman  of 
Connecticut,  were  of  the  committee  who  reported  the 
declaration ;  Thomas  Jefferson  of  Virginia,  was  the 
writer.  It  was  altered  in  some  parts  before  it  was 
voted  and  adopted.  The  great  leading  doctrines 
and  principles  asserted  were  such  as  had  been  al- 
ready advanced  in  several  public  papers  and  docu- 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


123 


ments  in  Massachusetts,  and  in  the  declaration  of 
Congress,  the  year  before. 

A  large  number  of  men  belonging  to  Massachu- 
setts and  Connecticut  were  with  General  Washing- 
ton in  the  daring  and  successful  war  made  on  the 
British  at  Trenton,  in  December;  and  again  in 
January  1777,  near  Princeton.  The  British  were 
far  more  numerous  than  those  under  Washington  ; 
and  his  success  on  this  occasion  revived  the  hopes 
of  the  people. 

1776. — January.  The  American  Army  under 
General  Washington  reduced  to  5000  men — the  time 
of  service  of  the  troops  in  1775  having  expired  in 
December.  The  British  troops  in  Boston  were 
10,000.  April,  General  Washington  with  the  Amer- 
ican army  left  Cambridge  for  New  York.  The 
British  troops  had  left  Boston  two  weeks  before. 

March  5th.  Dorchester  Heights  occupied  and  for- 
tified by  American  troops. 

17 th.  British  troops  left  Boston.  Some  of  their 
transports  and  ships  remained  in  the  outer  har- 
bor till  May.  American  troops  marched  from 
Cambridge,  part  to  New  York,  and  part  to  Canada. 

June.    Americans  retire  from  Canada. 

July.  British  land  a  large  army  on  Long  Island, 
near  New  York.  Americans  defeated  there  in 
August,  and  retire  to  the  main.  ~ 

July  4th.    Declaration  of  Independence. 

British  General  offers  to  treat  with  Washington. — 
But  the  terms  are  not  acceptable. 

Sept.  Continental  Congress  ordered  75,000  men 
to  be  enlisted  for  the  army.  But  not  more  than 
25.000  engaged.    Large  sums  of  money  were  bor- 


124 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


rowedj  and  more  paper  bills  issued  by  Congress  and 
by  Massachusetts. 

Dysentery  prevails  generally  this  month,  and  is 
very  mortal. 

1776.  The  British  left  Boston  in  March;  the 
town  was  much  injured,  the  houses  left  dirty,  some 
of  the  churches  made  barracks  for  soldiers,  and  even 
stables  for  horses,  and  great  cost  in  repairing. 

1776. — Sept.  Congress  voted  to  raise  75,000  men 
for  the  war,  or  for  three  years — more  than  a  fifth  of 
these  to  be  raised  by  Massachusetts.  In  1777,  it  had 
sixteen  regiments  of  infantry,  one  of  artillery,  and 
also  some  to  guard  the  sea  coasts  of  the  State.  New 
Hampshire,  three  regiments  ;  Rhode  Island,  two  ; 
and  Connecticut  eight.  Benjamin  Lincoln^  Wil- 
liam Heathy  and  Henry  Knox  were  Major-Generals 
from  Massachusetts. 

1776.  Commodore  E.  Hopkins  of  Rhode  Island^ 
went  on  a  naval  expedition  against  New  Provi- 
dence ;  and  took  away  the  military  stores  and  the 
governor  of  the  Island, 

March  17th.  The  British  evacuated  Boston,  and 
the  inhabitants  soon  after  returned. 

Whig  and  Tory  were  now,  and  had  been  for 
some  time  in  use  to  designate  the  friends  of  con- 
stitutional liberty,  and  the  supporters  of  arbitrary 
power.— The  population  of  Massachusetts  was  now 
estimated  to  be  348,000. 

1776,  Dec.  General  Washington  with  about 
2500  troops  attacked  and  defeated  a  large  detach- 
ment of  the  British  army  at  Trenton,  and  took  and 
killed  many  of  them. 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


125 


1776.  At  the  battle  of  Trenton,  General  Washing- 
ton with  only  2000  or  2500  troops  attacked  the 
British  forces  at  that  place,  in  December,  being  far 
more  numerous  than  the  American  troops  ;  took  the 
greater  part  of  the  enemy  there  with  small  loss. 
This  was  a  very  daring  measure  ;  but  it  retrieved 
the  affairs  of  the  United  States,  Avhich  were  then  in 
a  discouraging  state.  The  whole  American  army 
then  consisted  of  only  3000  or  4000  men,  and  the 
term  of  enlistment  had  nearly  expired  of  a  part  of 
these.  The  British  in  that  vicinity  was  20,000. 
Washington  crossed  the  Delaware  from  the  Pennsyl- 
vania side,  though  the  passage  was  much  obstructed 
by  ice.  He  pursued  the  enemy,  in  four  of  five  days 
to  Princeton,  where  he  attacked  and  routed  one  wing 
of  their  army. — This  was  a  great  and  glorious  affair, 
and  gave  new  hopes  and  life  to  the  people  of  the 
United  States.  The  British  were  confident,  and  in- 
tended to  scour  the  whole  country,  at  their  leisure. 
— They  supposed  all  opposition  would  cease,  and 
the  Americans  submit  to  the  British  laws  and  orders. 
Congress  had  been  obliged  to  leave  Philadelphia,  for 
safety ;  and  went  to  York,  and  then  to  Annapolis,  in 
Maryland. 

1776  and  1777.  The  troops  for  the  American 
army  were  raised  for  one  year  only.  General  Wash- 
ington disapproved  of  short  enlistments,  and  in 
1777,  they  were  engaged  for  three  years,  or  during 
the  war.  There  were  about  eighty  regiments  ; 
Massachusetts  raised  sixteen  regiments  of  Infantry, 
one  of  Artillery  :  and  had  also  two  regiments  in  the 
service  of  the  State,  to  guard  the  the  sea  coasts. 
The  regiments  were  not  all  full ;  and  in  1779,  the 
11  * 


126 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


militia  were  called  out  in  large  numbers,  for  nine 
months,  to  recruit  the  regular  army.  Meantime  sev- 
eral other  regiments  were  raised  to  go  and  defend 
Rhode  Island  from  the  British  troops,  then  at  New- 
port.—This  caused  great  expense,  high  taxes,  the 
issue  of  paper  money  to  a  great  extent  and  on  va- 
rious occasions  in  1775,  1776  and  1777;  which  soon 
depreciated,  and  caused  much  distress  to  the  people. 
But  they  persevered,  and  devoted  life  and  property 
in  defence  of  liberty. 

1776 — 80.  Numerous  vessels  were  employed  all 
this  period  as  privateers,  which  took  many  prizes  of 
great  value  ;  which  not  only  enriched  individuals, 
but  were  of  great  public  benefit  to  the  people  and  the 
army  ;  for  large  quantities  of  goods,  provisions  and 
warlike  stores,  designed  for  the  British,  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  Americans,  who  needed  them.  Some 
part  of  this  period,  provisions  were  very  scarce  ;  and 
the  people  suffered  for  want  of  bread.  The  army 
also  suffered  greatly;  and  were  without  clothing 
and  provisions,  necessary  to  make  them  comforta- 
ble. But  a  good  spirit  of  patriotism  prevailed,  and 
sustained  both  the  people  and  the  soldiers. 

1777.  The  battle  of  Germantown,  in  Pennsylva- 
nia, proved  the  bravery  of  the  American  troops,  and 
the  military  skill  of  the  officers. — General  Washing- 
ton was  in  the  field  and  on  horseback  the  whole 
day,  directing  and  encouraging  the  men.  The  cap- 
ture of  ten  thousand  British  troops  under  General 
Bourgoyne  soon  after,  in  October,  was  cause  of  great 
joy  to  the  people.  They  had  new  proof  that  their 
brethren,  who  had  undertaken  to  defend  the  coun- 
try, were  brave  and  resolute,  and  that  the  British 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


127 


were  not  invincible,  with  all  their  vain  boastings* 
The  quarters  of  the  American  army  the  winter  fol- 
lowing were  at  Yalley  Forge,  not  far  from  Philadei- 
phia,  where  the  enemy  had  a  large  army.  The  pri- 
vations of  the  American  troops  were  very  great.  It 
required  all  the  prudence  and  energy  of  Washing- 
ton to  keep  them  from  leaving  the  camp, 

1777.  The  General  Court  of  Massachusetts  pre- 
pared a  Constitution  for  the  State ;  but  the  people 
did  not  approve.  They  thought  it  more  proper  that 
one  should  be  framed  by  a  Convention  of  delegates 
from  the  towns  for  that  express  purpose.  There  was 
therefore  some  delay  in  this  measure;  but  in  1779, 
another  Convention  was  proposed ;  and  the  people 
generally  were  in  favor  of  it ;  and  in  1780  one  was 
called,  and  the  Constitution  prepared,  which  was 
adopted  by  the  majority  of  the  voters ;  it  went  into 
operation  in  October  1780 ;  and  remains,  with  some 
alterations,  approved  by  the  people.  John  Hancock 
was  the  first  governor ;  then  James  Bowdoin,  then 
Samuel  Adams,  &c, 

1777. — August.  Lord  Howe,  the  British  General, 
arrived  from  New  York,  at  the  Elk  river  :  and  there 
landed  a  large  body  of  troops  which  marched  to  the 
head  of  the  Elk,  within  about  Mty  miles  of  Phila- 
delphia, General  Washington  proceeded  with  a 
large  part  of  the  American  troops,  through  Philadel- 
phia, south,  towards  Maryland.  He  encamped  at 
Wilmington,  thirty  miles  from  Philadelphia,  and 
twenty  miles  from  the  enemy  on  Elk  river.  The 
British  army  was  said  to  be  25,000  or  27,000  in  all, 
at  that  time — how  many  were  in  this  detachment 
does  not  fully  appear,  but  it  was  supposed  12,000  or 


128 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


14,000,  and  much  more  numerous  than  ihe  troops 
then  with  Washmgton  in  that  vicinity.  He  had 
left  some  in  New  Jersey,  and  on  the  Hudson  river  ; 
and  many  were  under  General  Gates  at  Saratoga, 
and  that  part  of  the  country.  The  British  troops 
attacked  the  light  troops  of  the  American  army, 
and  obliged  them  to  retreat,  though  with  considera- 
ble loss  on  their  part ;  sixty  were  killed  and  eighty 
wounded,  and  some  prisoners  taken.  Reinforce- 
ments were  ordered  to  join  Washington,  as  he  ex- 
pected an  attack  from  the  British,  far  more  numerous 
than  the  troops  then  under  his  immediate  command. 
The  American  troops  marched  a  few  miles  from  Wil- 
mington ;  and  the  British  troops  advanced  within  a 
mile  and  a  half  of  them ;  but  deviated  in  order  to 
take  possession  of  the  heights  of  Brandy  wine  ;  when 
General  Washington  dispatched  some  of  his  troops 
to  take  possession  first;  an  action  soon  followed  this 
movement;  it  began  early  in  the  morning;  and  with 
some  interruption,  continued  m.ost  of  the  day,  when 
the  Americans  were  obliged  to  retreat;  and  retired  to 
Chester.  The  troops  behaved  with  great  spirit  and 
bravery  on  the  occasion.  The  British  aimed  to  ad- 
vance as  far  as  Philadelphia — but  they  were  pre- 
vented. This  was  a  severe  battle,  and  many  men 
were  engaged;  but  early  in  October,  a  more  general 
one  was  fought  at  Germantown,  in  Pennsylvania; 
but  the  success  was  various  ;  some  parts  of  the  day, 
victory  appeared  on  the  side  of  each.  The  weather 
was  thick,  and  caused  some  mistakes  and  misfor- 
tunes to  the  American  troops. — But  the  two  armies 
retired  or  separated  without  either  having  much  to 
boast  over  the  other. 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


1777.  Governor  Livingston  of  New  Jersey  says. 
The  Royalists  in  that  State  plundered  both  friends 
^nd  foes,  and  destroyed  much  property.— They  have 
warred  upon  decrepid  old  age,  and  defenceless 
youth  ;  they  have  committed  hostilities  against  the 
professors  of  literature,  and  the  ministers  of  religion  ; 
against  public  records  and  private  monuments ; 
against  books  of  improvements,  and  papers  of  curi- 
osity ;  and  against  the  arts  and  sciences.  They 
have  butchered  the  wounded,  asking  for  quarter ; 
mangled  the  dead,  weltering  in  their  blood  ;  refused 
to  the  dead  the  rites  of  sepulture;  sufiered  prisoners 
to  perish  for  want  of  sustenance  ;  violated  the  chas- 
tity of  women ;  disfigured  private  houses  of  taste' 
and  elegance  ;  and,  in  the  rage  of  impiety  and  bar- 
barism, profaned  edifices  dedicated  to  Almighty 
God." 

1777,  January.  The  Marquis  de  Lafayette  ar- 
rived, to  act  as  a  volunteer  in  the  American  army. 
He  was  made  a  Major  General  by  Congress,  with 
the  approbation  of  Washington.  He  continued 
through  the  war, — and  was  an  intelligent  and  brave 
officer.  He  was  a  French  nobleman,  and  at  the 
time  he  arrived  was  only  about  twenty-one  years  of 
age. 

In  October,  a  large  British  army  of  about  eleven 
thousand  troops,  under  Gen.  Bourgoyne,  was  cap- 
tured near  Saratoga,  in  New  York  State.  He  was 
aiming  to  reach  the  Hudson  river  at  Albany,  and 
join  the  other  part  of  the  British  army  on  that  river 
and  at  New  York;  and  thus  divide  the  south  and 
north  parts  of  the  United  States,  and  more  easily 
conquer  the  country.    He  had  advanced  from  Cana- 


130 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


da,  and  had  met  little  opposition,  and  the  country 
was  much  alarmed.  Here  he  was  first  checked  by 
the  New  Hampshire  militia,  who  attacked  one  part  of 
the  British  army,  and  took  or  killed  most  of  it.  Gen- 
eral Stark  commanded  the  militia.  The  regular  troops 
were  thus  encouraged.  They  were  commanded  by 
General  Gates  ;  General  Benjamin  Lincoln  of  Hing- 
ham,  Massachusetts  was  second  in  command,  and 
contributed  much  to  the  success  of  the  Americans, 
on  that  occasion. 

1777.  Pirates  shipwrecked  at  Cape  Cod;  100 
drowned ;  six  taken  and  executed. 

Number  of  sailors  in  Massachusetts  3500,  and  ves- 
sels 500. 

1777 — April  A  detachment  of  1800  British  troops 
from  New  York  made  an  incursion  into  Connecticut. 
They  burnt  several  houses,  &c.,  when'  they  were 
opposed  by  the  militia  under  Generals  Wooster  and 
Arnold.  Several  killed  and  wounded  on  each  side^. 
and  the  British  were  obliged  to  retreat.  The  British 
from  Canada  advance  on  the  State  of  New  York, 
with  a  design  to  proceed  to  Albany  and  join  other 
troops  from  the  City  of  New  York ;  there  to  unite 
their  forces,  and  thus  separate  the  New  England 
States  from  the  Southern.  Several  regiments  were 
ordered  to  oppose  the  British  from  the  New  England 
States,  under  General  Gates.  In  course  of  the  sea- 
son, large  bodies  of  militia  were  ordered  out  as  re- 
cruits from  Massachusetts  and  New  Hampshire ; 
and  the  British  army  was  captured  in  October. — 
Some  troops  from  New  England  advanced  with 
the  main  army  in  Pennsylvania,  and  were  in  the 
battles  of  Brandy  wine  about  the  same  time.  The 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


131 


British  were  in  possession  of  Rhode  Island,  at  this 
time,  with  a  large  force,  and  with  several  ships  of 
war  in  the  harbor.  An  attack  on  them  was  proposed, 
but  not  successfully  prosecuted. 

1777 — January.  Washington  obtained  another 
victory  over  the  British  at  Princeton. 

Feb.  Marquis  de  Lafaj'-ette  arrived  at  Charles- 
ton, as  a  volunteer  in  our  cause. 

1778.  The  British  army,  which  had  long  been 
in  possession  of  Philadelphia,  (six  or  eight  months,) 
marched  for  New  York,  in  June,  and  General  Wash- 
ington, then  in  the  vicinity,  though  his  army  was 
small  compared  to  the  British,  pursued  them. — June 
28th,  at  Monmouth  in  New  Jersey,  he  made  an  attack 
on  their  rear  :  many  of  them  were  taken  and  many 
killed  and  wounded,  but  it  was  not  a  complete  vic- 
tory on  the  part  of  the  Americans,  owing  to 
treachery,  or  disobedience  of  orders  in  General  Lee. 
He  failed  to  execute  orders  given  by  Washington. 
The  American  troops  behaved  with  great  gallanty 
and  courage.  A  large  portion  of  them  were  from 
Massachusetts.  General  Knox,  who  commanded 
the  artillery  on  that  occasion  conducted  with  great 
spirit,  and  drove  the  enemy  from  the  field  where  he 
was  sent.  General  Washington  spoke  highly  of  his 
conduct,  in  his  orders  of  the  following  day. 

1778.  The  whole  number  of  the  British  troops  in 
America  was  50,000 ;  but  4000  were  stationed  in 
Canada  and  Nova  Scotia. 

General  Washington  recommended  the  Congress 
to  promise  half  pay  to  the  officers  of  the  Continental 
army,  who  should  continue  till  the  close  of  the  war — 
and  a  bounty  of  eighty  dollars  to  the  private  soldiers. 


13^ 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHiElONOLOG¥. 


Many  of  the  officers  were  now  resigning  their  commis- 
sions.^ aud  desiring  to  return  to  their  families,  which 
were  almost  destitute. — In  1780,  Congress  engaged, 
by  special  resolves  to  make  such  provision  for  the 
army — but  the  officers  never  realized  much  from  the 
promise. 

1778.  John  Adams,  a  distinguished  citizen  of 
Massachusetts,  and  a  member  of  Congress  from  that 
State,  was  appointed  Envoy  to  France,  and  sailed 
in  the  month  of  February.  The  object  ofhis  embas- 
sy was  to  obtain  aid  from  the  king  of  France,  and 
to  form  a  treaty  of  alliance  with  that  nation.  Mr. 
Adams  was  one  of  the  most  ardent  and  able  patriots 
in  all  the  United  States. 

This  year,  the  British  ministry  profess  to  desire 
reconciliation  and  peace  with  America ;  and  pro- 
pose to  repeal  some  of  their  most  obnoxious  acts, 
passed  in  1774  and  1775.  But  they  were  not  con- 
sidered sincere  in  their  professions.  Besides,  they 
required  the  return  of  the  United  States  to  a  submis- 
sion to  the  government  of  England ;  which  could  not 
now  be  done^  as  the  States  had  declared  themselves 
to  be  Independent.  In  an  address  of  Congress  to  the 
people,  on  this  occasion,  they  say — "  that  it  was 
with  great  reluctance  they  engaged  in  the  contest — 
that  they  long  supplicated  for  redress  under  the  op- 
pressive and  arbitrary  measures  of  Parliament — but 
while  petitioning,  a  fatal  blow  was  struck  by  the  Brit- 
ish government,  which  has  separated  us  forever  : 
and  the  people  appealed  to  Heaven  for  the  justness  of 
their  cause.  But  do  our  haughty  oppressors  suppose 
we  will  accept  the  humiliating  terms  offered,  because 
we  are  suffering  the  distresses  of  war  ?    Do  they  ex- 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


133 


pect  that  we  shall  basely  lick  the  dust  at  the  feet  of 
our  destroyers  1  Is  there  any  American  so  lost  to 
the  feelings  whrch  adorn  human  nature,  to  the  gen° 
erous  pride,  the  elevation,  the  dignity  of  freedom  ? 
Is  there  a  man  among  us  who  would  rest  a  depen- 
dence  on  those  who  have  deluged  our  country  in  the 
blood  of  its  inhabitants  1  Who  have  instigated  ser- 
vants^ to  slay  their  masters,  and  have  excited  the 
barbarous  Indians  against  us  " 

This  address.  Congress  recommended  to  be 
read  to  the  people  by  the  clergy  of  all  denominations. 
A  great  number  of  the  militia  of  Massachusetts  were 
called  out  this  year,  as  well  as  in  1777,  for  the  de- 
fence of  Rhode  Island ;  they  then  having  a  large 
army  at  Newport. 

1778. — December.  A  regiment  of  the  Continental 
army,  composed  chiefly  of  citizens  of  Massachusetts, 
commanded  by  Colonel  Alden  of  Plymouth  county, 
stationed  at  Cherry  Valley,  about  sixty  miles  from 
Albany,  for  the  defence  of  the  frontiers,  was  cut 
up  by  the  Royalists  and  Indians,  who  attacked  the 
Americans  by  surprise.  .  The  Colonel  and  several 
other  officers  and  a  large  number  of  the  men  were 
slain. 

1778  and  1779.  More  recruits  for  the  Continental 
army  were  called  for.  The  towns  were  required, 
where  the  men  would  not  enlist,  to  draft -them,  or 
furnish  them  at  any  expense.  From  six  to  ten,  or 
more  were  required,  according  to  the  number  of  in- 
habitants. In  most  cases,  large  ounties  were 
given,  and  the  men  paid  in  specie.  Th«y  declined 
taking  paper  money  ;  such  as  the  State  and  Congress 
paid  soldiers  for  their  wages.  This  was  a  heavy  tax 
12 


134 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY, 


on  the  people-— and  those  m  the  regular  army  for 
three  years,  who  engaged  in  1777,  were  discontented 
and  complained.  Some  people  were  almost  ready  to 
give  up  the  contest;  while  the  most  said,  "  we  will 
not  give  it  up,  we  are  ready  to  spend  half  our  estates 
in  the  cause ;  and  more,  if  necessary."  Some  pe- 
riods of  .  the  war,  every  fifth  able-bodied  man  was 
called  into  the  field,  from  Massachusetts ;  either  in 
the  Continental  army,  or  for  six  rhonths. 

1778.  The  British  landed  at  New  Bedford,  and 
burnt  many  houses  there,  and  at  Fair  Haven. 

1778  and- 1780.  The  public  armed  vessels  of  the 
United  States,  including  those  of  the  individual 
States,  were  sixty,  but  none  over  forty  gun  frigates, 
and  a  few  only  so  large.  The  privateers  were  very 
numerous. 

1778  and  1781.  The  low  state  of  the  public 
credit,  depreciation  of  paper  money,  and  heaVy 
taxes,  were  the  cause  of  constant  anxiety  to  the  sev- 
eral States  and  to  Congress.  Yet  they  had  effected 
great  loans  in  Europe,  and  the  people  paid  very  large 
sums  for  the  public  services.  Massachusetts  paid 
$50,000  monthly,  during  1779,  in  specie.  If  they 
paid  in  paper,  it  was  forty  for  one. 

1779.  Congress  recommended  that  measures  be 
adopted  by  the  States  to  prevent  extortion  and  mon- 
opoly.—A  Convention  was  held  at  New  Haveri,  for 
the  northern  and  eastern  States  ;  and  it  was  strongly 
urged  on  the  people  to  avoid  these  public  crimes. 
Several  States  adopted  measures  for  the  purpose  ; 
but,  to  the  reproach  of  Massachusetts,  that  State  de- 
clined making  any  laws  or  regulations  on  the  sub- 
ject.  It  was  said  "  the  recusants  opposed.'* 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHJIONOLO0Y. 


135 


1779.  More  of  the  militia  called  out  as  recruits  to 
the  regular  army.  A  great  many  went  from  Massa« 
chusetts :  but  they  were  raised  with  difficulty,  and 
paid  large  bounties.  The  people  were  borne  down 
by  heavy  taxes.  Paper  money,  both  State  and  Con- 
tinental, had  greatly  depreciated;  and  this  added  to 
the  distresses  of  the  times.  The  taxes  laid  by  Con- 
gress exceeded  $3,000,000.  Those  of  each  State 
were  of  still  greater  amount.  Paper  money  then 
emitted  $160,000,000.  Foreign  loans  then  amount- 
ed to  $33,000,000— and  $36,000,000  had  then  been 
advanced,  in  one  way  or  another  by  the  people,  for 
the  public  service, 

1779.  A  British  fleet,  with  troops  from  Halifax, 
took  possession  of  Penobscot ;  and  Massachusetts 
sent  a  small  fleet  to  attack  them  ;  but  the  attempt 
was  unsuccessful.  The  British  had  the  advantage 
in  several  respects,  and  the  American  General  did  not 
conduct  with  all  the  wisdom  and  energy  which 
were  expected.  An  attack  was  made  on  the  fort 
occupied  by  the  British,  but  they  were  obliged  to  re- 
treat. There  were  nearly  forty  vessels  sailed  from 
Boston  in  this  expedition,  in  June,  and  twelve  hun- 
dred men.  As  it  was  undertaken  by  the  State  of 
Massachusetts,  though  with  a  view  to  the  welfare 
and  benefit  of  the  United  States,  Congress  declined  a 
reimbursement  for  the  expenses. 

1779.— September.  The  British  landed  on  the 
Vineyard,  and  took  ofi*  nearly  ten  thousand  sheep. 

The  Biritish  plundered  New  Haven  and  Fairfield, 
and  grossly  abused  the  people,  old  and  young,  male 
and  female. 

X780.— April.     Congress   recommended  to  th^ 


136 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLO^f. 


States  to  bring  into  the  Continental  treasnry  hf 
iSL±es,  their  quotas  of  $I5,00O,00O;  gold  and  silver 
to  be  received  at  the  rate  of  one  dollar  for  forty  in 
paper  money.  A  new  emission  of  paper  was  re- 
sorted to ;  but  they  soon  depreciated  like  the  old 
bills ;  for  there  were  no  funds  to  redeem  them.  Of 
these  ^ISjOOOjGOO,  the  portion  to  Massachusetts  waS 
$2,000,000,  The  people  were  called  on,  by  the 
State  for  nearly  an  equal  amount  more,  to  meet  de- 
mands against  it,  in  its  separate  capacity. 

1780.  The  British  government  ordered,  that  cap- 
tains of  privateers,  fitted  out  in  the  United  States,  if 
taken,  should  be  sent  to  England  and  imprisoned. 

This  year,  amidst  the  confusion  of  the  war,  the 
American  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences  was 
founded  in  Massachusetts.  Hon.  James  Bowdoin 
was  the  first  president. 

Philips  Academy  at  Andover  was  opened  the 
same  year  ;  and  has  flourished  even  to  the  present 
time,  1843.  It  has  proved  a  great  blessing  to  the 
Commonwealth. 

September.  Wben  Gen.  Washington,  the  com- 
mander-in-chief of  the  American  army,  whose  head- 
quarters were  then  at  West  Point,  on  the  Hudson 
river,  was  absent  for  a  few  days,  to  meet  the  French 
General  from  Rhode  Island,  at  Hartford,  he  left  the 
troops  and  fort  under  the  command  of  General  Ar- 
nold. A  plot  was  laid  by  the  latter,  by  means  of  a 
British  spy  from  New  York,  to  surrender  the  fort  to 
the  British,  who  were  to  send  up  a  large  force  to 
take  possession  of  it.  The  day  Washington  returned 
the  plot  was  discovered,  the  spy  having  been  taken 
and  proof  in  letters,  found  on  him  of  the  plot.  Ar^ 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


137 


nold  fled  by  water  down  to  New  York,  a  few  hours 
before  Washington  arrived,  or  the  treacherous  plan 
was  known  ;  and  thus  escaped,  but  the  British  spy, 
a  brave  officer  in  their  army,  was  hung  according 
to  the  laws  and  usages  of  war, 

1780.  The  debt  of  Massachusetts,  as  a  separate 
State,  besides  its  quota  of  the  continental  debt,  which 
was  to  a  large  amount,  eind  nearly  as  great  a  sum, 
was  nominally  ^200,000,000  :  but  in  specie  was 
5,000,003.  But  this,  some  supposed,  .was  a  fourth 
part  of  the  property  of  the  State.  As  Massachusetts 
had  made  greater  advances,  or  incurred  more  ex- 
pense, for  the  general  service,  than  its  due  propor- 
tion, it  was  to  be  expected  her  debt  would  be  les- . 
sened,  on  a  settlement  with  the  United  States.  Real 
Estate  was  very  low  at  this  time  in  the  New  Eng- 
land States, 

During  this  year,  it  was  voted  by  the  General 
Court, to  raise  240,000,  annually  for  seven  years  to 
enable  the  State  to  meet  its  engagements  to  the  of- 
ficers and  soldiers,  and  their  other  creditors.  Large 
sums  were  at  this' time  also  raised  for  the  Continen- 
tal Treasury,  as  required  by  Congress.  The  chief 
or  only  complaint  made  against  the  General  Court 
however,  was.  that  due  ceremony  was  not  always 
used  in  making  purchases  for  the  public  service. 
This  year  also  Congress  called  for  four  thousand 
men  from  Massachusetts  :  and  Gen.  Washington  for 
4700,  for  six  months. 

Massachusetts  now  raised  money  by  loans,  and 
by  sale  of  the  estates  of  Refugees. 

1781.  The  Massachusetts  Medical  Society  estab- 
Ushed.    The  population  of  Rhode  Island  at  this  time 

12* 


138 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


was  51j000;  less  than  in  1774  The  war  pre- 
vented an  increase  of  inhabitants,  in  all  or  most  of 
the  States,  during  that  period. 

May,  A  National  Bank  was  established  at  Phil- 
adelphia by  the  Continental  Congress. 

In  December,  paper  money  ceased  circulation  en- 
tirely. It  had  greatly  depreciated,  and  few  would 
receive  it  even  at  forty  for  one  in  silver. 

1781.  General  Arnold,  with  some  British  troops 
from  New  York,  landed  at  New  London,  and  burnt 
a  part  of  the  town,  and  also  of  Groton,  on  the  op- 
posite side  of  the  river  Thames.  Yet  the  inhabi- 
tants might  be  said  to  have  been  his  old  neighbors ; 
when  he  was  a  citizen  of  Rhode  Island.  After  this 
vile  conduct  of  Arnold,  it  was  found  that  he  was 
charged  with  several  acts  of  peculation  and  fraud 
committed  before  his  treachery  at  West  Point.  The 
execrations  of  the  American  people  followed  him  to 
England ;  and  he  was  without  consolation  or  re- 
gard from  the  British. 

October.  A  part  of  the  British  army  under  Lord 
Qornwallis,  which  had  been  marching  triumphant- 
ly through  Virginia,  was  captured  at  Yorktown,  af- 
ter being  besieged  by  the  American  troops  for  some 
days.  The  British  consisted  of  10,000  or  11,000. 
The  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  was  not  large  on 
either  side,  although  the  cannonading  continued  sev- 
eral days.  General  Washington  was  present  with 
this  part  of  the  army.  It  was  important  to  have  the 
attack  made  with  skill  and  energy.  He  no  doubt 
foresaw  that  the  capture  of  so  large  a  part  of  the 
British  army  would  hasten  peace. 

Gen.  Lafayette  had  a  high  command,  and  so  had 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGV. 


139 


Major  General  Lincoln  of  Massachusetts.  A  large 
portion  of  the  Americans  engaged  in  that  affair  were 
from  Massachusetts.  Lt.  Colonel  Alexander  Scam- 
melj  then  acting  as  Deputy  Adjutant  General  was 
killed  at  that  time.  He  was  esteemed  a  brave  and 
intelligent  officer,  and  a  son  of  Harvard  College. 
Gen.  Lincoln  of  Massachusetts,  was  appointed  Sec- 
retary of  War,  by  Congress. 

1782,  March.  Military  operations  suspended  in 
New  York,  as  it  was  then  expected  that  peace 
would  soon  be  made  between  the  United  States  and 
Great  Britain,  and  the  British  Ministry  was  changed. 
Holland  acknowledged  the  Independence  of  the 
United  States,  in  April  of  this  year,  and  received 
Mr.  John  Adams  as  their  Minister  Plenipotentiary. 

1783.  Treaty  of  peace  between  England  and 
France,  and  with  the  United  States. 

1783.  The  complete  abolition  of  slavery  in  Mas- 
sachusetts, is  usually  dated  from  this  time.  The 
master  of  a  negro  slave  beat  him  severely,  and  the 
servant  prosecuted  him  for  assault  and  battery  ;  the 
master  pleaded  that  the  negro  was  his  slave.  The 
Supreme  Court  decided  against  the  master,  and  in 
favor  of  the  slave  who  was  beaten.  Public  opinion 
was  now  most  unequivocally  expressed  against 
slavery ;  and  some  influence  in  favor  of  the  slaves  and 
of  their  manumission  was  derived  from  the  declaration 
in  the  bill  of  rights  of  the  Constitution  of  Massachu- 
setts, which  is,  that  all  men  are  born  free  and  equal. 
The  constitution  of  New  Hampshire  was  adopted 
this  year. 

1783.  Congress  voted  a  commutation  of  five  years 
to  the  officers  of  the  Continental  army,  who  contin- 


140 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


ued  to  the  close  of  the  war,  in  lieu  of  half  pay  for 
life,  as  before  promised.     An  attempt  hy  some  an- 
onymous writer,  at  West  Point,  in  March,  to  induce 
the  army  to  remain  together,  till  Congress  should  do 
them  justice  ;  or  in  other  words,  till  Congress  should 
comply  with  all  their  wishes,  as  to  their  pay  for 
their  public  and  mihtary  services  ;   which  it  should 
be  compelled  to  do  by  threats.    General  Washington 
spurned  the  plan  with  indignation,  and  severely  cen- 
sured the  writer,  whoever  he  might  be.    Almost  all  - 
the  officers  joined  Washington  and  opposed  the  mu- 
tinous plan — only  two  or  three  publicly  excused  the 
vile  instigator.     Had  the  measure  been  approved 
and  adopted,  there  would  have  been  a  military  des- 
potism established.     The  army  was  soon  after  dis- 
banded, in  small  portions  at  a  time,  and  retired  to 
their  homes  peaceably ;  to  wait  the  justice  of  Con- 
gress.   This  was  a  proud  day  for  the  citizen  soldiers 
of  America.     They  were  poor  and  destitute,  and 
had  large  claims  on  their  country  for  compensation 
and  wages  :  Yet  they  laid  down  their  arms  and 
mixed  with  the  mass  of  their  fellow  citizens,  till  the 
country  should  be  able  to  reward  them.     At  this 
time,  the  Society  of  Cincinnati  was  formed,  for  the 
purpose  of  perpetuating  friendships,  to  cement  the 
union  of  the  States,  to  preserve  a  love  of  civil  liberty, 
so  essential  to  the  happiness  and  dignity  of  man  ; 
and  to  assist  any  destitute  member,  or  his  family, 
which  might  be  in  want.     The  society  has  proved 
innocent,  peaceable,  and  highly  respectable  ;  never 
engaging  in  party  politics,  or  interfering  with  any 
political  measures.     In  the  time  of  the  insurrection  * 
by  Shays  in  1786,  they  did  offer  their  personal  ser- 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGT. 


141 


tices  to  the  government  of  Massachusetts  to  assist  in 
suppressing  that  daring  and  threatening  movement 
against  law  and  order. 

1783.  The  treaty  of  peace  with  England  defined 
or  described  with  much  minuteness  the  bounds  be- 
tween the  possessions  of  that  nation  In  America, 
New  Brunswick,  Canada  and  the  great  western 
lakes,  of  the  United  States.  But  the  bounds  were 
not  so  accurately  described  as  to  prevent  disputes, 
for  a  long  period  after,  on  the  subject.  The  country 
on  the  borders  of  each  was  unsettled  ;  and  the  bounds 
mentioned  could  not  be  fixed  in  some  places.  Agents 
and  commissioners  from  each  government  were  ap^ 
pointed  at  different  times  to  settle  the  limit ;  but 
they  could  not  agree ;  and  their  opinions  did  not  sat- 
isfy both  the  governments,  where  they  did  agree. 
The  dispute,  as.  to  the  bounds  between  Maine,  then 
a  part  of  Massachusetts  and  New  Brunswick, 
long  continued.  The  claims  of  the  two  gov- 
ernments were  conflicting  at  several  points.  Each 
insisted  on  its  construction  of  the  treaty  of  1783  ; 
and  indeed,  at  one  time,  open  war  was  threat- 
ened. And  the  dispute  was  not  settled  till  sixty 
years  after  the  treaty,  in  1842. 

1783.  Congress  proposed  to  the  States  to  raise 
money  by  impost — Massachusetts  thought  it  would 
operate  unequally,  according  to  the  varying  com- 
merce of  the  States,  and  did  not  comply  at  the  time  ; 
but  the  year  following,  they  ordered  an  impost,  and 
also  an  excise  on  all  sales  at  public  auction. — The, 
tax  to  be  raised  in  Massachusetts  was  now 
^800,000.     For  several  years   subsequently,  the 


142 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


taxes  of  the  State  were  very  onerous,  and  the  com- 
plaints of  the  people  were  great. 

The  parting  of  General  Washington  with  his  offi- 
cers, when  the  army  was  disbanded,  is  represented  as 
an  affecting  scene.  The  most  of  them  had  been  with 
him  and  under  him  in  the  tented  field  six  and  seven 
years.  He  had  witnessed  their  bravery  and  con- 
stancy with  great  satisfaction  ;  and  they  had  beheld 
his  prudence,  military  skill  and  unwearied  devotion 
to  the  cause  of  the  country,  with  admiration.  There 
was  a  strong  mutual  regard  between  them.  Three 
hundred  and  fifty  commissioned  officers  from  Massa- 
chusetts. 

When  in  December  1783;  General  Washington  re-  ■ 
signed  his  commission  as  Commander-in-Chief  of 
the  American  army,  into  the  hands  of  Congress,  he 
said,  The  great  event  on  which  my  resignation  de- 
pended having  at  length  taken  place,  I  have  now  the 
honor  of  offering  my  sincere  congratulations  to  Con- 
gress, of  presenting  myself  before  them,  and  to  surren- 
der into  their  hands  the  commission  entrusted  to  me, 
and  to  claim  the  indulgence  of  retiring  from  the  service 
of  my  country,  happy  in  the  confirmation  of  our  in- 
dependence and  sovereignty,  and  pleased  with  the 
opportunity  afforded  the  United  States  of  becoming 
a  respectable  nation." 

1784.  The  second  bank  in  the  United  States,  and 
the  first  in  Massachusetts,  was  established  in  Boston 
this  year.  The  act  of  incorporation  imposed  few 
restrictions.  There  was  no  period  stated  for  its  con- 
tinuance, and  no  limits  as  to  the  amount  of  bills  al- 
lowed to  be  circulated,  compared  to  the  capitol  paid 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


143 


in.  The  Union  Bank  was  the  next,  and  was  incor- 
porated in  1792  ;  about  the  time  the  Bank  of  the 
United  States  had  a  branch  in  Boston,  for  deposit 
and  discount. 

1784.  The  number  of  inhabitants  in  Massachu- 
setts, inchiding  Maine  was  now  400,000.  A  prop- 
position  was  made  for  the  separation  of  Maine  as  a 
distinct  State.  This  year,  three  hundred  and  seven- 
ty-two vessels  entered  the  port  of  Boston,  and  in  six 
months  this  year,  four  hundred  and  fifty  cleared  out 
from  that  port. 

1785.  A  very  severe  storm,  and  an  extraordinary 
high  tide  at  Plymouth,  and  in  other  places  in  the 
south  and  south  east  of  the  State. 

1785.  A  committee  of  Congress,  stated  at  this 
time,  that  the  whole  debt  is  only  about  $40,000,000, 
the  price  of  liberty  and  independence.  The  public 
debt  of  Great  Britain  was  said  then  to  be 
£240,000,000  Stirling. 

1785.  Charlestown  contained  only  150  dwelling 
houses,  and  about  550  inhabitants.  The  population 
of  Boston  was  said  to  be  18000.  Complaints  and 
embarrassments  in  the  community  were  very  great 
at  this  time,  on  account  of  the  Continental  and  State 
debts,  which  were  high,  and  no  specie  in  the  country 
to  pay  it.  And  yet  a  large  amount  of  British  goods 
were  imported;  and  much  specie  sent  out  of  the 
United  States  to  pay  for  them.  The  importations 
into  Massachusetts  were  beyond  the  ability  of  the 
people.  Governor  Hancock  resigned  his  office, 
and  James  Bowdoin  was  chosen  to  succeed  him.  It 
was  a  distressing  period  ;  and  in  1786,  the  insurrec- 
tion, conducted  by  Daniel  Shays,  occurred,  which, 


144 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


at  one  time  threatened  to  spread  anarchy  through 
the  Commonwealth.  It  is  true  the  people  were 
borne  down  by  the  weight  of  taxes,  now  greater  than 
were  before  known.  Three  large  tax  bills  passed  in 
a  year :  but  this  was  necessary  to  maintain  the 
credit  of  the  State.  Repudiation  was  not  then 
dreamed' of.  The  insurgents  wished  to -suspend  the 
payment,  both  of  public  taxes  and  private  ;  and  col- 
lected in  large  bodies,  in  several  counties,  to  prevent 
the  courts  of  justice  from  doing,  business,  In  some 
instances  the  courts  were  obliged  to  adjourn.  The 
evil  spirit  was  prevailing;  and  yet  the. majority  of 
the  people  were  opposed  to  these  violent  measures— 
The  last  of  1785,  the  militia  was  ordered  out  to 
check  the  rebellion  :  not  however,  till  repeated  ad- 
monitions and  warnings  had  been  given.  General 
Benjamin  Lincoln,  an"  experienced  officer  in  the  late 
war,  firm  and  resolute,  yet  humane  and  prudent, 
had  command  of  the  government  troops ;  and  in  a 
few  months  dispersed  the  insurgents  :  and  order  was 
restored  to  the  Commonwealth. 

1786.  Governor  Bowdoin  suggested  to  the  Gen- 
eral Court  the  importance  of  giving  more  power  to 
Congress  in  all  commercial  concerns,  and  to  have 
exclusive  authority  to  regulate  trade  and  navigation, 
and  also  the  duties  on  impost  goods  and  articles,  so 
that  the  regulations  and  laws  might  be  uniform  in 
all  the  States: 

A  meeting  was  held  the  same  year  in  Maryland, 
to  consider  the  propriety  and  policy  of  conferring 
such  powers,  but  only  five  States  sent  delegates  to 
the  Convention. 

1786 — 88.    An  enterprising  spirit  prevailed  among 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


145 


the  people  ;  and  was  manifested  in  attention  to  ag- 
riculture, to  several  kinds  of  manufactures,  to  ship- 
building, to  the  fisheries,  and  to  distant  voyages  to 
the  North  West  coasts  of  America  and  to  China  ;  but 
it  was  not  until  the  Federal  Government  was  estab- 
lished in  1789,  that  due  encouragement  was  given 
to  navigation  and  commerce ;  and  on  these  depended, 
in  a  great  measure,  the  prosperity  of  the  other  de- 
partments of  business. 

1787 — 8.  Maiden  bridge  built  across  Mystic  river, 
from  Charlestown  to  Maiden. 

1787.  A  Convention  was  held  at  Philadelphia,  at 
which  there  were  delegates  from  all  the  States,  to 
propose  alterations  in  the  articles  of  the  confedera- 
tion, so  as  that  Congress  might  have  greater  powers, 
relating  to  general  or  national  subjects,  and  especial- 
ly those  relating  to  commerce  and  the  imposition  of 
duties  of  foreign  goods  brought  into  the  country,  for 
the  purpose  of  raising  a  revenue  to  pay  the  public 
debt.  The  Convention  recommended  that  large  ad- 
ditional powers  be  granted  to  Congress ;  and  that  a 
federal  or  national  government  be  estabUshed,  to  be 
paramount  in  several  respects  to  State  governments. 
The  plan  was  approved  and  adopted  by  eleven 
States,  in  1788.  The  Convention  in  Massachusetts 
called  to  consider  whether  it  should  be  adopted, 
when  first  assembled,  was  opposed  to  it. 

1787.  The  taxes  assessed  tliis  year  in  Massachu- 
setts were  to  a  great  amount,  and  fully  equal  to 
those  laid  in  1785,  or  1786.  The  debt  was  large, 
and  no  small  sum  was  due  for  interest ;  and  Congress 
also  called  for  a  large  sum.  And  yet  it  was  found 
by  an  examination  of  the  accounts  of  the  several 
13 


146 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


States  made  in  1790,  that  Massachusetts  was  a  cred- 
itor State  to  a  large  amount ;  having  made  advances 
during  the  war,  far  beyond  its  portion.  Boston  then 
paid  an  eleventh  part  of  the  whole  tax  of  the  State. 
Since  that  time  it  has  paid  a  sixth  part.  And  Mas- 
sachusetts contributed  nearly  a  seventh  part  of  the 
advances  and  quota  required  by  Congress  during  the 
war. 

1787j  April  24th.  An  extensive  jSre  in  the  south 
part  of  Boston,  more  destructive  than  had  been  for 
many  years.  The  church  in  Hollis  street  was  burnt, 
and  all  the  buildings  in  that  vicinity  for  the  distance 
of  nearly  half  a  mile. 

1787.  The  taxes  were  then  so  very  high,  that  al- 
though the  public  credit  required  prompt  payment  and 
collection,  the  amount  wanted  exceeded  $1,000,000 
of  that  paid.  The  General  Court  directed  the  Treas- 
urer of  the  State  to  suspend  his' warrant  against  the 
collectors  for  the  greater  part  of  the  tax,  and  to  in- 
sist only  on  a  portion  of  that  sum.  This  was 
deemed  an  improper  measure  by  many  of  the  citi- 
zens :  and  was  not  very  different  from  repudiation. 
On  account  of  the  great  taxes  assessed  and  called 
for,  the  people  were  unable  to  pay  their  private 
debts.  This  caused  much  distress,  and  suits  in- 
creased in  the  courts  for  collecting  them.  They 
complained  that  the  fees  of  the  courts  and  of  the  at- 
tornies  were  too  high,  and  urged  the  legislature  to  les- 
sen them.  Produce  was  made  a  tender  for  the  pay- 
ment of  private  debts.  The  salary  of  the  governor 
was  reduced,  by  his  consent ;  but  the  next  year  he 
asked  for  the  usual  sum, -when  the  General  Court 
refused.    Mr.  Hancock  was  the  governor.  It 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY.  147 

proposed  to  issue  paper  money,  as  a  relief  to  the 
people,  but  the  plan  was  not  adopted.  *  The  tender 
law  was  however  continued,  of  which  those  who 
were  creditors  generally  complained  as  unjust  and 
unconstitutional. 

1787,  Sept. ^  Delegates  from  all  the  Stateis  met  at 
Philadelphia  and  proposed  a  new  constitution  for 
the  nation.  Their  first  object  was  to  alter  the  arti- 
cles of  the  old  Confederation.  But  they  were  of  the 
opinion,  that  a  complete  National  Government  was 
necessary  for  the  prosperity  of  the  country. 

1788.  Card  Manufacturing  in  Boston. 
1788.    Bridge  from  Salem  to  Beverly. 

1788.  Connecticut  and  Rhode  Island  prohibit  the 
slave  trade  ;  but  in  the  latter  State  it  was  carried  on 
clandestinely  for  several  years  after ;  or  by  citizens 
of  that  State.  A  Roman  Catholic  Church  was 
founded  in  Boston,  at  this  time. 

1788.  Convention  at  Boston,  for  Massachusetts 
to  consider  the  federal  Constitution;  which  was 
adopted,  being  the  5th  State  which  approved  it. 

1790.  Census  taken  at  this  time,  gave  to  Massa- 
chusetts^, including  Maine,  478,000  inhabitants.  In 
1840  Maine  contained  that  number. 

1790.  Vermont  made  a  separate  State ;  the  inhabi- 
tants then  being  about  85,000.  In  1 792,  it  was  ad- 
mitted into  the  federal  union,  having  previously 
adopted  the  constitution  of  the  United  States.  A 
part  of  the  territory  had  been  claimed  by  New  York 
and  New  Hampshire ;  and  most  of  the  first  settlers 
were  from  the  latter  State. 

1791.  A  proposal  was  again  made  for  constructing 


148 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


a  canal  across  Cape  Cod,  at  Sandwich,  connecting 
the  navigation  of  the  waters  in  Barnstable  bay  on 
N.  E.  with  Buzzards  bay  on  the  south — a  commit- 
tee was  sent  to  view  the  place,  which  was  favorable 
to  the  project ;  but  it  was  not  undertaken,  as  many 
practical  men  believed  it  would  be  of  little  benefit, 
on  account  of  the  tides  on  the  different  bays,  which 
rose  very  unequally,  and  at  different  hours. — The 
plan  had  been  proposed  several  times  before. 

1791.  Humane  Society  of  Massachusetts  insti- 
tuted. 

1791.  Massachusetts  Historical  Society  formed, 
but  not  incorporated  till  1794. 

Joseph  Ingraham  from  Boston,  discovered  several 
islands  in  South  Pacific  Ocean. 

1791.  Massachusetts  received  a  large  amount, 
$130,000,  from  the  State  of  New  York,  for  a  ces- 
sion of  a  tract  of  land  in  the  interior  of  that  State, 
which  the  former  State  had  claimed  from  the  first 
settlement,  as  being  included  in  their  charter  from 
the  crown  of  England.  It  was  not  however,  giving 
a  full  title,  but  only  a  pre-emptive  right.  A  part  of 
the  territory  claimed  by  JMassachusetts  had  been 
sold  before ;  and  a  part  ceded  to  Congress,  making 
a  part  of  the  public  lands,  in  the  north  west  ter- 
ritory. 

1791.  The  public  tax  of  Massachusetts  was  only 
$100,000;  but  a  part  of  the  taxes  of  the  two  pre- 
ceding years  were  unpaid.  The  above  sum  was 
scarcely  sufficient  to  pay  the  interest  of  the  debt  of 
the  State.  The  public  lands  in  Maine  were  oflfered 
'for  sale. 


x\EW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


149 


1792.  Fifty  thousand  barrels  of  beef  and  pork 
exported  from  Massachusetts.  The  exportations 
greatly  increased  in  a  few  years  afterwards. 

1792.  The  Middlesex  canal  was  constructed, 
leading  from  the  waters  of  Charles  river,  near 
Charlestown,  to  the  Merrimack,  near  Chelmsford, 
now  the  site  of  Lowell,  the  distance  of  twenty-three 
or  four  miles.  Projects  for  turnpike  roads  were 
urged,  and  soon  after  several  were  constructed  in 
Massachusetts. 

Medical  Dispensary  established  in  Boston,  for  the 
relief  and  benefit  of  sick  persons,  destitute  of 
property  or  relations  to  provide  for  them. 

1792.  A  law  was  passed  by  the  legislature  of 
Massachusetts  for  the  due  observation  of  the  Lord's 
^ay,  or  the  Christian  Sabbath. 

1792.  Congress  assumed  a  part  of  the  debts  of 
the  several  States,  and  also  admitted  that  Massachu- 
setts had  made  large  advances  for  the  national  ser- 
vice beyond  its  just  proportion — and  the  State  was 
thus  relieved,  in  some  degree,  of  its  previously 
heavy  debt  and  taxes. 

1793  and  1794.  Academies  increased.  One  was 
established  at  Leicester,  Massachusetts,  one  at  Exe- 
ter, in  New  Hampshire,  one  at  Berwick,  and  one  at 
Hallo  well  ,  Maine. 

1793,  —  October.  Governor  Hancock  died,  and 
Samuel  Adams  succeeded  him.  Thus  these  eminent 
patriots,  though  proscribed  by  the  British  govern- 
ment in  1775,  were  honored  and  confided  in  by  their 
fellow  citizens. 

1793.    The  West  Boston  bridge,  leading  to  Cam- 
bridge, completed  this  year. 
13% 


150 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


1793.  Williams  College  founded  at  Williams- 
town,  County  of  Berkshire. 

A  Universalist  Society  founded  in  Boston. 

1T93  and  1794.  Political  parties  formed,  called 
Federalists  and  Anti-Federalists  :  the  former  ap- 
proved of  the  federal  constitution,  and  of  the  policy 
and  measures  of  General  Washington,  the  first  Pres- 
ident of  the  United  States  ;  from  1789  to  1797.  The 
other  party  was  opposed  to  the  federal  constitution, 
on  several  accounts,  and  to  the  leading  measures  of 
Congress  and  of  President  Washington  in  1793  and 
1794. 

1793  and  1794.  Spars,  timber  and  boards  were 
sent  in  large  quantities  from  different  parts  of  Maine, 
to  England  and  Scotland  ;  and  for  several  years  was^ 
a  profitable  business. — At  this  period  the  cod  fish- 
ery was  pursued,  to  a  greater  extent  than  at  any 
other  period.  In  some  towns  a  great  number  of  ves- 
sels and  men  were  engaged  in  it ;  and  with  a  good 
profit.  Saltworks  were  also  now  prepared  in  sev- 
eral places,  chiefly  on  Cape  Cod.  And  salt  is  man- 
ufactured from  sea  water,  even  to  this  time,  1843. 

1794.  The  new  State  House  in  Boston  built ;  the 
corner  stone  laid  by  Governor  Adams. 

1794.  Bowdoin  College,  in  Brunswick,  Maine, 
was  founded  ;  so  called  in  honor  of  Governor  Bow- 
doin. The  State  gave  five  townships  of  wild  lands 
to  the  institution  ;  but  they  were  of  little  value  at 
that  time, 

1797.'  Edward  Bass,  D.  D.  of  Newburyp9rt  was 
consecrated  the  first  Bishop  in  Massachusetts. — He 
was  succeeded  by  Samuel  Parker,  D.  D.  of  Boston, 
in  1803.     Samuel  Seabury  of  Connecticut,  was  the 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


151 


first  Bishop  in  New  England,  and  was  somis  years 
in  that  office  before  the  appointment  of  Bishop  Bass. 

1797.  Congress  ordered  that  several  ships-of-war 
should  be  built,  as  war  was  then  threatened  by- 
France,  against  the  United  States.  President 
Adams  directed  that  a  large  frigate  of  forty-four 
guns,  be  built  in  Boston.  It  was  called  the  Consti- 
tution ;  and  was  one  of  the  most  fortunate  of  the 
United  States  ships-of-war,  in  the  contest  with  Eng- 
land in  1812  and  1814.  Commodore  Isaac  Hull  had 
often  the  command  of  this  frigate. 

1799.  Dr.  Jenner's  discovery  of  vaccination,  as  a 
substitute  or  preventive  of  small  pox,  was  intro- 
duced into  Massachusetts,  and  extensively  adopted, 
with  great  advantage. 

1800.  A  navy  yard  was  this  year  established  in 
Charlestown,  for  the  use  of  ships-of-war  of  the 
United  States — for  repairs,  &c.,  for  a  port  after  re- 
turning from  distant  and  long  voyages.  And  sev- 
eral of  the  largest  ships  -noyv  belonging  to  the  navy 
have  been  built  there. 

180O.  A  law  was  passed  by  the  legislature  of 
Massachusetts  favorable  to  religious  liberty  ;  in  1811, 
another  law  was  passed  for  the  same  purpose.  By 
the  first  law,  all  sects  were  secured  equal  liberty  and 
privileges ;  and  by  the  latter  allowed  to  attend  pub- 
lic religious  worship  and  instruction,  or  not^  with 
any  denomination. 

1802.  The  General  Court  of  Massachusetts  voted 
to  build  a  State  prison,  or  penitentiary ;  for  the  ob- 
ject was  reform  as  well  as  punishment.  It  was  lo- 
cated at  Charlestown,  and  was  began  the  next  year. 
The  criminal  code  was  altered  a  few  years  before,  in 


152 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


Massachusetts  and  some  other  States,  and  rendered 
more  mild.  The  whipping  posts  and  stocks  were 
removed,  and  a  more  private  punishment  was  sub- 
stituted, requiring  confinement  and  labor;  labor  for 
profit,  and  confinement  for  reformation.  For  sev- 
eral years,  the  convicts  were  confined  on  Castle 
island,  in  Boston  harbour,  and  guarded  by  the  mili- 
tary band,  then  stationed  there.  Their  employment 
was  chiefly  the  manufacture  of  nails.  When  the 
State  prison  was  finished,  they  were  removed 
thither  ;  and  were  required  to  labor  by  day,  and 
were  confined  in  cells  by  night,  but  not  entirely  sol- 
itary, though  this  was  found  necessary  at  a  later 
period. 

1S03.  The  State  tax  of  Massachusetts  was 
$155,000  for  this  year,  for  the  current  expenses  and 
payment  of  interest  on  the  public  debt.  The  pay- 
ment of  the  Representatives  and  Senate  for  their  at- 
tendance, did  not  exceed  $20,000. 

1804.  The  General  Court  of  Massachusetts,  by 
a  small  majority,  voted  to  have  the  Electors  of  Pres- 
ident and  Vice-President  of  the  United  States  chosen 
by  a  general  ticket.  This  was  an  unpopular  meas- 
ure. For  this  mode  had  never  been  adopted  in 
Massachusetts.  It  had  been  the  mode  of  choosing 
them  in  some  of  the  States  :  and  there  was  no  doubt 
it  was  constitutional.  The  Electors  had  also  been 
appointed  in  Massachusetts  and  other  States  by  the 
legislature  of  the  States.  But  in  this  State,  they  had 
commonly  been  chosen  by  the  people  in  separate 
districts;  and  this  was  considered  the  most  proper 
and  equal  mode.  The  majority  in  Massachusetts 
were  then  federalists;    but  the  general  ticket  pro- 


NEW  ENGLA.ND  CHRONOLOGY. 


153 


posed  and  supported  by  their  opponents,  or  demo- 
crats, prevailed.  And  from  this  time,  for  several 
years,  the  democratic  party  succeeded  a  greater 
part  of  the  time  in  the  choice  of  their  candidates  for 
pubhc  office. 

1804.  The  Supreme  Judicial  Court  in  Massa- 
chusetts was  differently  organized,  in  some  respects; 
so  that  one  of  the  justices  might  hold  a  court  alone, 
for  the  trial  of  common  actions,  usually  brought  be- 
fore that  court,  and  in  criminal  matter,  where  the 
crime  charged  against  the  person  to  be  tried  did  not 
by  law  subject  him  to  the  punishment  of  death.  In 
such  case,  there  must  still  be  the  whole  court,  or  at 
least  three  of  the  justices.  Before  that  time,  the  law 
required  three  of  the  five  judges  to  be  present  at  all 
trials.  Appeals  however,  were  allowed  in  most 
cases,  if  the  parties  were  dissatisfied.  This  was 
found  a  real  reform  in  judicial  proceedings. 

1805.  State  prison  at  Charlestown,  finished  this 
year. 

The  tons  of  shipping  in  Massachusetts  were  now 
estimated  at  450,000.  The  whale  fishery  had  then 
much  increased. 

1805.  An  act  was  passed  by  the  legislature  of 
Massachusetts  against  the  practice  of  duelling. 
There  was  a  law  of  the  State  before,  against  this 
absurd  method  of  deciding  personal  disputes  and 
quarrels.  But  in  New  England,  this  practice  never 
prevailed.  It  was  of  very  rare  occurrence.  In  the 
southern  States  it  was  more  frequently  resorted  to, 
by  those  who  engage  in  warm  personal  disputes.  It 
was  one  of  the  absurd  ordeals  handed  down  from  a 
barbarous  age. 


154 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


1807.  Boston  Alhenseum  was  established  this 
year,  and  had  many  friends  and  patrons.  The 
library  has  greatly  increased  since  it  was  first  found- 
ed. It  has  been  of  incalculable  benefit  to  the 
people. 

1807.  James  Sullivan,  the  Attorney  General  for 
the  Commonwealth,  was  this  year  chosen  chief 
magistrate  over  Governor  Strong,  who  had  been 
chosen  six  years  successively.  Governor  Sullivan 
did  not  satisfy  his  party,  who  were  in  favor  of  vio- 
lent measures,  and  for  removing  the  political  friends 
of  Mr.  Strong  from  office.  He  said,  that  he  was 
governor  of  the  State,  and  not  of  a  party  :  and  his 
administration  was  marked  by  much  moderation 
and  magnanimity.  He  died  in  1808,  the  second 
year  he  was  in  the  governor's  chair. 

1807  and  1808.  The  people  in  the  New  England 
and  other  commercial  States  suffered  much  at  this 
period  from  a  long  Embargo,  laid  by  Congress,  on 
the  recommendation  of  President  Jeflerson.  Many 
doubt-ed  the  benefit  of  any  embargo  at  that  period  ; 
but  the  greatest  objection  was  that  it  should  be  con- 
tinued until  Mr.  Jefferson  should  advise  its  repeal. 
And  indeed  it  was  continued  for  fifteen  months. 
Embargoes  had  been  ordered  by  a  former  Congress  ; 
but  for  a  limited  time — for  three  or  six  months. 
The  Embargo,  at  this  time,  was  generally  disap- 
proved and  opposed  in  Massachusetts,  and  the  peo- 
ple became  clamorous  as  the  measure  was  long  con- 
tinued. It  proved  very  oppressive  to  all  those  more 
immediately  concerned  in  navigation.  It  was  ex- 
tended, after  first  imposed,  so  as  to  prevent  the 
coasting  and  fishing  business.    This  measure  served 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


155 


to  increase  the  political  party  spirit  which  before 
prevailed.  The  federal  party  was  strongly  opposed 
to  it  ;  while  the  adherents  of  Mr.  Jefferson  attempted 
to  justify  or  excuse  it.  For  several  years,  and  even 
during  the  war  of  1812,  this  unhappy  spirit  prevail- 
ed with  bitterness,  and  to  the  suspension  of  the  so- 
cial feelings  and  deportment.  The  alienation  was 
almost  as  great  among  neighbors  as  in  1770  and 
1775  between  whigs  and  tories. 

1808.  Woollen  and  cotton  cloths  were  mor^  ex- 
tensively manufactured  in  Massachusetts  and  Rhode 
Island,  than  at  any  former  period.  The  capital 
employed  in  the  business  was  much  increased.  Im- 
portations were  attended  with  great  difficulty  and 
risk.  The  American  vessels  were  captured  and 
confiscated  both  by  the  EngUsh  and  the  French. 

1811.  The  Massachusetts  General  Hospital  was 
founded ;  the  State  made  appropriations  for  it  in 
part;  but  the  funds  for  erecting  the -buildings,  and 
for  other  purposes  necessary  for  its  going  into  opera- 
tion, consisted  chiefly  of  donations  from  generou-s 
and  public  spirited  men.  William  Phillips,  late 
lieut.  gov.  of  Massachusetts,  gave  a  very  large  sum, 
and  also  paid  a  legacy  of  his  father,  left  at  his  de- 
cease^ for  a  similar  public  institution.  The  General 
Hospital  is  located  in  the  west  part  of  Boston.  The 
Asylum  for  the  Insane,  establishad  afterwards  at 
Charlestown,  chiefly  from  donations  and  a  legacy  of 
John  McLean,  a  merchant  of  Boston,  is  somewhat 
connected  with  the  General  Hospital,  and  is  under 
the  superintendence  of'  the  same  board  of  trustees, 
as  has  the  government  of  the  Hospital.  Both  these 
institutions  have  been  of  very  great  benefit  to  the 


156 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


sick  and  wounded,  who  are  poor,  as  well  as  to 
others  ;  and  to  that  class  of  the  community  who  are 
not  deprived  of  reason. 

1812.  When  war  was  declared  by  Congress 
against  Great  Britain,  in  June  1812,  it  was  believed 
that  the  majority  of  the  people  considered  it  un- 
necessary, and  that  it  would  prove  injurious  to  the 
United  States.  In  the  New  England  States,  and 
especially  in  Massachusetts,  this  was  undoubtedly 
the  prevailing  opinion,  and  it  proved  to  be  highly 
disastrous  and  distressing.  During  the  three  years 
it  continued,  the  loss  of  property  was  very  great  to 
the  citizens ;  particularly  to  those  who  had  an  in- 
terest in  commerce  and  navigation.  And  besides 
the  absolute  and  total  loss  of  vessels  and  their  rich 
cargoes,  business  was  suspended  in  a  great  measure, 
the  vessels  were  rotting  at  the  wharves,  and-  large 
numbers  of  men  who  were  employed  as  seamen,  or 
who  found  it  profitable  in  laboring  for  the  merchants, 
were  without  business  and  without  wages.  Some 
of  these  turned  their  attention  to  agriculture,  some 
to  manufactures ;  but  many  had  no  occupation  at 
all.  The  privations  and  sutferings  of  the  people 
for  part  of  the  time,  were  almost  as  severe  as  in  the 
war  for  independence.  And  they  complained  more, 
as  they  did  not  think  the  war  necessary,  in  the  view 
either  of  justice  or  true  honor.  As  an  adequate 
regular  army  had  not  been  raised,  the  militia  were 
called  for  soon  after  the  war  was  declared,  to  be 
treated  as  regular  troops,  under  national  officers,  to 
be  employed  where  they  might  order.  The  governor 
of  Massachusetts  declined  to  do  this,  (the  militia 
officers  also  declined  going  into  the  field  to  be  com- 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


157 


maiided  by  national  officers,  and  made  a  part  of  the 
regular  army.)  In  cases,  however,  where  the  mihtia 
were  called  to  defend  the  sea  coasts,  and  under  the 
command  of  their  own  officers,  they  were  ordered 
out  when  requested.  The  refusal  of  the  governor  to 
order  out  the  militia  and  be  placed  in  the  hands  of 
national  officers,  caused  a  misunderstanding  with 
the  general  government,  which  lasted  a  long  period, 
and  sometimes  was  warm  and  threatening.  The 
war  terminated  in  January,  1815.  It  added  to  the 
public  debt  $150,000,000;  and  yet  the  objects  for 
which  the  war  was  declared  were  not  attained. 
The  additional  sum  of  $800,000  was  expended  by 
Massachusetts  for  the  services  of  the  militia  called 
out  to  defend  the  sea  coasts  during  the  war.  The 
national  government  made  indemnification  in  part 
to  Massachusetts,  some  years  after. 

1813,  February.  The  first  society  for  the  sup- 
pression of  intemperance  in  Massachusetts,  was 
formed,  and  Hon.  S.  Dexter  was  made  president. 

1815.  A  convention  was  held  at  Hartford,  Con- 
necticut, composed  of  delegates  from  that  State, 
from  Rhode  Island,  and  from  some  counties  of 
New  Hampshire.  The  objects  of  the  convention, 
though  some  pretended  they  wished  to  oppose  the 
general  government  by  force,  and  to  dissolve  the 
union,  was  to  remonstrate  against  the  war,  as  sev- 
eral individual  States  had  already  done  ;  to  pray  for 
renewed  efforts  for  peace ;  to  request  of  Congress 
that  each  State  might  defend  itself  separately,  when 
attacked  or  threatened  by  the  enemy,  and  be  reim- 
bursed for  the  expenses  by  the  federal  government. 
This  was  the  whole  design  of  the  convention,  as 
14 


158 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


appears  by  their  records.  The  members  were  high- 
ly patriotic  characters,  and  they  expressly  declared 
their  desire  to  preserve  the  union,  and  to  make  great 
sacrifices  rather  than  it  should  be  dissolved. 

1816.  When  Governor  Strong,  who  had  been  in 
the  chair  for  eleven  years,  retired  from  office,  Gen- 
eral John  Brooks  was  chosen  to  succeed  him  as  chief 
magistrate,  though  his  political  competitor  at  that 
time  was  a  highly  gifted  man,  and  of  undoubted 
patriotism.  The  people  still  retained  a  great  regard 
for  the  officers  of  the  revolutionary  war  ;  and  Gen- 
eral Brooks  was  one  of  the  most  distinguished  in 
that  meritorious  band. 

1816.  A  Peace  Society  was  formed  in  Massachu- 
setts, and  Hon.  William  Philips  was  the  first  president. 

1816.  Very  few  goods  were  imported  into  the 
United  States  from  Europe,  during  the  war  ;  and 
this  led  to  an  increase  of  domestic  manufactures  of 
both  woollen  and  cotton  cloths  on  a  much  larger 
scale  than  before.  At  the  time  of  the  long  embargo, 
five  or  six  years  before,  numerous  manufactures  were 
pursued;  but  in  1815,  1816,  and  afterwards,  large 
factories  were  established  in  several  places  in  New 
England,  for  cotton  and  woollen  goods.  Rhode 
Island  was  largely  engaged  in  manufacturing  cot- 
tons. At  Waltham,  in  Massachusetts,  cotton  cloth 
was  manufactured  ;  and  was  soon  sold  for  a  less 
price  than  cotton  goods  imported  ;  it  was  also  of  a  very 
fine  and  strong  fabric.  Factories  for  making  wool- 
len cloth  were  established  at  Northampton.  Twenty- 
four  companies  were  formed  in  1815.  In  1819,  the 
capital  employed  in  these  manufactures  in  Massa- 
chusetts was  estimated  at  $20,000,000,  and  since 
that  time  it  has  very  much  increased. 


I 


ADDENDA. 


Several  articles,  prepared  for  this  volume,  were 
overlooked  when  it  was  in  the  press,  the  compiler 
being  confined  to  a  sick  chamber  the  greater  part  of 
the  time  it  was  in  the  hands  of  the  printer.  Some  of 
these  are  now  added,  as  not  unimportant  to  one  en- 
quiring as  to  events  in  the  early  history  of  New  Eng- 
land. To  the  same  cause  must  be  attributed  the 
repetition  of  some  articles,  which  escaped  the  notice 
of  the  examiner  of  the  proof  sheets.  They  are  few, 
and  cannot  lead  to  any  error  of  dates  or  facts. 

Surplusage  does  not  vitiate."  The  pretensions  of 
the  compiler  are  of  a  humble  character ;  yet  it  is 
believed  the  volume  will  be  found  of  some  value  as 
a  book  of  reference. 

1556  and  1557.  At  this  time,  the  first  congrega- 
tional society,  since  the  days  of  primitive  Christian- 
ity, was  formed  at  Geneva,  by  English  puritans 
who  had  fled  thither,  as  they  could  not,  with  a 
good  conscience,  conform  to  the  imposition  of  the  high 
church  party  then  in  England  ;  and  the  Rev.  Wil- 
liam Whittingham  was  chosen  the  pastor,  who  gave 
up  an  estate  £1100  a  year.  Afterwards,  in  the  time 
14=^ 


162 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


of  Elizabeth,  he  returned  to  England,  and  was  made 
Dean  of  Durham,  and  wrote  a  learned  treatise  against 
the  ecclesiastical  constitutions  of  the  Episcopal 
Church,  as  then  in  force.  His  estate  was  near  Boston, 
in  England  ;  and  he  and  one  of  his  sons  did  much  for 
the  support  of  the  church  and  religion  in  that  place. 
His  son  was  intended  for  New  England,  hut  was 
prevented  by  death.  But  his  widow  came  over  to 
Massachusetts  with  her  family  ;  and  one  son  re- 
mained, while  the  others  returned  to  England.  A 
son  of  his  was  educated  at  Harvard  College,  and 
married  a  daughter  of  Rev.  William  Hubbard  of 
Ipswich,  the  writer  of  a  history  of  New  England. 
A  daughter  of  the  last  mentioned  Whittingham,  was 
married  to  Governor  Gurdon  Saltonstall  of  Connec- 
ticut, and  was  esteemed  as  a  learned,  accomplished 
and  munificent  lady. 

This  congregational,  or  independent  church  at 
Geneva,  it  may  be  noted,  was  several  years  earlier 
than  that  at  Leyden,  under  Robinson ;  and  that  at 
Leyden  was  several  years  older  than  that  formed  by 
John  Lothrop,  and  others  at  London.  Lothrop  was 
a  follower  or  disciple  of  Robinson. 

1614.  See  page  14.  The  Isles  of  Shoals,  a  num- 
ber of  small  islands,  and  chiefly  rocks,  a  few 
miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  Piscataqua  river,  were 
visited  by  Capt.  John  Smith  in  his  voyage  along  the 
coasts  in  1614 ;  and  at  first  called  Smith's  Isles, 
Gorges  allowed  these  to  be  granted  to  Captain 
Smith ;  but  the  value  was  very  small.  For  some 
years,  however,  the  inhabitants  residing  on  them 
were  more  numerous  than  in  late  years.  The  fish- 
ing business  was  early  pursued  there,  with  peculiar 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


163 


advantages.  The  surface  of  all  but  one  is  very 
rocky.  The  grandfather  of  Sir  William  Pepperell 
of  Kittery,  lived  on  the  largest  island,  and  made 
money  by  the  fisheries.  They  were  formerly  able 
to  support  a  minister.^ — Since  that,  they  have  had  a 
missionary  and  teacher,  supported  chiefly  by  the 
society  in  Massachusetts  for  propogating  the  gospel 
among  the  Indians  and  others  in  North  America. 
Captain  Smith  says,  "  on  many  accounts  this  North 
Virginia  is  an  excellent  country,  both  for  fertility 
and  health.  Of  all  the  four  quarters  of  the  world  I 
have  seen,  uninhabited,  had  I  the  means  to  transport 
a  colony,  I  should  rather  live  there  than  any  where ; 
and  if  it  did  not  maintain  us,  let  us  starve." — Cap- 
tain Smith  was  unfortunate  after  this,  (which  he  said 
in  1627,)  and  was  not  duly  encouraged;  and  there- 
fore never  visited  New  England  again. 

1614.  See  page  14.  Captain  J.  Smith's  map  of 
New  England  is  very  correct,  as  to  the  coasts- — 
far  less  so,  of  towns.  It  was  merely  a  matter  of  im- 
agination ;  they  were  not  then  settled.  This  has 
confused  and  led  astray  many  persons,  who  did  not 
consider  the  map  was  made  before  the  settlements 
were  began.  He  places  Plymouth  on  theNarragan- 
set  bay,  below  Providence  ;  and  says  Gosnold 
founded  it  in  1602.  Gosnold  visited  the  Elizabeth 
islands,  and  on  one  resided  about  a  month.  He  also 
landed  on  the  main,  but  made  no  settlement.  Barn- 
stable, he  called  Barwick.  Scituate,  he  named  Lon- 
don. Marshlield,  Oxford  :  Salem,  Barnstable :  Ips- 
wich, Southampton  :  Saco,  he  called  Ipswich  :  Bos- 
ton, also,  is  north  of  Piscataqua,  on  his  map. 


164 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


1620.  The  Speedwell,  which  transported  the 
principal  part  of  the  Leyden  company,  June  1620, 
intending  for  America,  from  Holland  to  England, 
and  there  join  another  vessel,  hired  there  for  trans- 
porting the  pilgrims,  was  a  small  vessel  of  sixty 
tons. — The  ship  hired,  and  called  the  May-flower, 
was  of  one  hundred  and  eighty  tons. 

1620.  Captain  Dermer,  who  was  often  on  the 
coasts  of  New  England,  or  North  Virginia,  in  the 
service  of  the  Plymouth  company  in  England,  for 
discoveries,  was  at  the  Vineyard  this  year,  and  prob- 
ably visited  Cape  Cod  and  Patuxet,  (or  Plymouth,) 
and  was  mortally  wounded  by  the  Indians  at  the 
Vineyard,  some  of  whom  had  been  kidnapped  by 
an  English  vessel. 

1620.  See  page  19.  The  pilot  was  probably 
with  Captain  Dermer,  who  was  on  the  coasts  in 
1619 — 20,  from  Penobscot  to  Virginia  ;  and  searched 
most  of  the  bays  and  harbors  on  the  coasts ;  by  di- 
rection of  Gorges,  then  agent  for  the  Plymouth  com- 
pany in  England,  which  had  a  patent  for  North  Vir- 
ginia, or  New  England.  There  is  no  detailed  ac- 
count of  this  voyage  ;  he  died  in  Virginia,  early  in 
1620.  Fron  the  general  statements  given,  it  appears 
that  Gorges,  as  agent  of  the  Plymouth  company, 
(first  formed  in  England  in  1606,  and  revised  in 
1620,)  had  a  plan  as  early  as  1614,  after  Captain 
Smith's  discoveries  on  the  coasts  of  North  Virginia, 
of  making  settlements  in  different  places ;  and  of 
having  a  general  government  over  them  all,  of  one 
jurisdiction.  He  jegarded  not  the  welfare  or  con- 
venience of  the  puritans  ;  but  was  rather  opposed  to 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


165 


them.  He  took  possession  of  the  mouth  of  Saco 
river  1615 ;  and  of  Agamenticus  and  Piscataqua, 
in  1622. 

1620.  See  page  20.  Robert  Cushman  embarked 
in  the  Speedwell,  August  1620,  when  the  two  vessels 
left  England  for  America  ;  but  he  put  back  in  that 
vessel,  when  she  was  found  too  leaky  to  proceed  on 
the  voyage.  His  writings  show  that  he  was  a 
learned  man,  and  friend  to  the  colony.  He  was  one 
of  the  Leyden  company's  agents  to  England  in  1618. 
Carver  and  Bradford  were  also  agents  in  1619. 

1624  and  1625.  See  page  36.  At  this  period, 
four  years  after  the  settlement  of  Plymouth  began, 
the  permanency  of  the  colony  seemed  to  be  uncer- 
tain. They  had  increased,  indeed  somewhat  in 
numbers ;  but  those  who  joined  them  from  Holland 
in  1621  and  1623,  were  poor.  They  had  expended 
their  estates  by  frequent  removals,  and  by  being 
obliged  to  leave  England,  where  they  made  great 
sacrifices  of  property  ;  and  they  were  almost  wholly 
dependent  on  the  few  already  settled.  The  losses 
of  the  colony  were  very  great,  by  the  capture  on  the 
French  coasts  of  two  vessels  with  valuable  cargoes 
of  furs,  designed  for  England  to  pay  their  debts. 
These  amounted  to  large  sums,  owing  to  outfits 
when  they  left  England  in  1620,  and  provisions 
and  goods  purchased  there  at  different  times  in  1621, 
1623  and  1624 :  and  for  which  they  gave  most  ex- 
travagant interest,  even  to  thirty  and  forty  per  cent. 
James  Shirley  and  a  few  other  religious  persons  in 
England,  who  had  confidence  in  them,  were  their 
sureties  for  large  sums  ;  otherwise  they  would  have 
been  bankrupts,  and  the  colony  broken  up. 


166 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


1630.  See  page  30.  The  death  of  Mr.  Higginson 
was  a  great  loss  to  the  infant  church  and  settlement. 
Had  he  lived,  he  probably  would  have  prevented  the 
difficulty  made  by  Sir  Roger  Williams. 

1630.  When  Rev.  Mr.  Higginson  and  Skelton 
were  set  apart  to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  in  Salem, 
1629,  the  same  form  was  adopted,  as  in  Wilson's,  and 
similar  views  were  expressed  by  those  who  took 
part  in  the  ceremony.  The  democratic  principle,  or 
the  principle  of  equality  in  all  church  members  was 
adopted  for  some  time,  but  Mr.  Cotton  of  Boston, 
who  came  in  1633,  contended  for  greater  power  and 
authority  in  the  clergy  than  in  a  lay  member. 

1630.  See  page  28.  The  petty  Sachems  at 
Squantum,  near  the  Neponset  river,  at  Mystic,  at 
Lynn,  and  at  Ipswich,  had  authority  only  on  a  small 
territory.  The  squaw  Sachem  at  Concord,  had  a 
more  large  territory  under  her  government.  The 
destruction  of  so  many  of  the  Indians  by  pestilence, 
a  few  years  before  the  settlements  at  Plymouth  and 
Salem,  must  be  considered  a  remarkable  providence. 

1641.  See  page  55.  These  were  Rev.  Mr. 
Weld,  of  Roxbury,  and  Rev.  Hugh  Peters,  of  Sa- 
lem: but  they  did  not  return  to  Massachusetts. 

1630.  When  the  company  set  down  at  Dorches- 
ter, in  June  1630,  it  is  said,  they  found  a  few  settlers 
already  there.  These  were  probably  people  em- 
ployed by  Thomson,  or  his  widow,  after  his  de- 
cease ;  for  they  claimed  a  part  of  the  shore  opposite 
to  the  island,  where  they  resided. — Beside  the  two 
clergymen  of  the  Dorchester  company,  there  were  sev- 
eral very  intelligent  and  able  men  :  Ludlow,  Rossiter, 
Stoughton,  Walcott,  Duncan,  Clapp,  fe.    The  pub- 


NEW  ENGLAxND  CHRONOLOGY. 


167 


lie  taxes  laid  by  the  colony,  in  1630  and  1631,  were 
as  high  for  Dorchester  as  for  Boston,  and  higher 
than  any  other  town,  at  that  period  :  which  shews  the 
people  there  were  numerous  or  of  good  estates. 

1634.  The  oath  of  a  freeman  of  Massachusetts 
was,  ''I  do  swear  by  the  great  and  dreadful  name 
of  God,  that  I  will  be  faithful  to  the  government 
here  established  within  the  jurisdiction  of  this  com- 
monwealth, (not  colony  !)  and  will  endeavor  to  pre- 
serve all  ^the  liberties  and  privileges  thereof — and 
that  when  called  upon  to  give  my  voice,  I  will  give 
it  as  I  shall  judge  in  my  conscience  may  best  con^ 
duce  to  the  public  weal,  without  respect  of  persons, 
or  favor  to  any  man." 

1634  and  1635.  See  page  43.  When  the  charter 
of  Massachusetts  was  threatened  to  be  annulled  by 
Charles  I,  at  the  request  of  Archbishop  Laud  and 
others,  who  were  persecutors  of  the  puritans,  it  was 
owing  to  the  prudence  and  firmness  of  Winthrop 
and  a  few  others  in  the  government  with  him  at  that 
time,  that  all  charter  rights  and  privileges  were  not 
taken  away.  And  this  would  have  left  them  at  the 
mercy  of  such  eccentric  men  as  Thomas  Morion  and 
Roger  Williams  ;  as  well  as  to  the  will  of  the  king, 
and  bishops  in  England.  Winthrop  considered  it  a 
special  interposition  of  Providence  in  favor  of  the 
puritan  settlers  in  New  England.  They  had  not 
any  great  reason  to  fear  the  withdrawal  of  the  char- 
ter, afterwards,  for  several  years  later. 

1634.  See  page  44.  The  General  Court  now  con- 
sisted of  twenty-four  representatives  or  deputies, 
three  being  sent  from  each  town,  Salem,  Boston, 
Charlestown,  Dorchester,  Roxbury,  Cambridge, 
Watertown  and  Lynn;  it  was  before  composed  of 


168 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


all  the  freemen  in  the  colony  whose  duty  it  was  to 
attend. 

1636.  The  clergy  were  all  men  of  learning,  and 
the  people  considered  it  important  that  they  should  be 
so.  They  did  not  often  encourage  illiterate  enthu- 
siasts, merely  because  they  were  full  of  zeal.  They 
did  not  claim  inspiration  in  their  teachers,  nor  su- 
pernatural illumination.  As  Johnson  says,  they  high- 
ly estimated  the  benefit  of  human  learning. — He  says 

that  learning  was  highly  appreciated,  and  led 
them  to  found  a  college,  for  they  knew  that  with  il- 
literate ministers  fanaticism  and  error  would  pre- 
vail." 

1637  and  1638.  Exeter  was  early  settled  by  Rev. 
^  John  Wheelwright,  who  had  resided  some  time  at 
Brainiree,  in  Massachusetts.  He  was  a  great  en- 
thusiast, and  advanced  not  only  new  and  extrava- 
gant opinions,  but  opposed  the  civil  authority,  and 
was  banished  the  colony  in  1637.  He  was  a  brother 
of  the  noted  enthusiast  and  antinomian,  Mr.  Hutch- 
inson, who  caused  so  much  confusion  in  the 
churches  at  that  time. 

John  Weniworh,  who  was  several  years  governor 
of  New  Hampshire  till  the  revolution  in  1774 :  af- 
terwards some  time  governor  of  Nova  Scotia,  was 
a  very  learned  man.  Meshec  Weare  was  the  presi- 
dent of  that  province  during  the  war,  and  also 
after  the  constitution  of  that  State  was  adopted  in 
1784. — He  also  was  reputed  a  man  of  learning  and 
ability. 

1641.  An  abstract  of  the  laws,  said  to  be  pre- 
pared in  1636  and  1637,  by  Rev.  J.  Cotton,  and  Sir 
Henry  Yane,  without  the  authority  of  the  General 
Court,  was  published  in  England,  in  1641,  but  not 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


169 


deemed  of  full  and  legal  authority  in  the  colony.-— 
A  code  of  laws  drawn  up  by  Rev.  Mr.  Ward,  of 
Ipswich,  a  few  years  later,  was  by  authority  ; 
and  was  adopted  after  some  delay  ;  and  received  as 
the  laws  of  the  colony, — published  in  1648,  or,  as 
said  by  some  writers,  in  1646. 

1650.  See  page  59,  In  the  time  of  the  Common- 
wealth in  England,  the  commerce  and  navigation  of 
Massachusetts  was  extended  ;  and  an  act  favorable 
to  the  colonies  in  this  respect  was  passed  by  a  re- 
publican parliament.  It  had  before  been  cramped 
and  restricted  by  the  British  government.  And  af- 
terwards, under  all  the  monarchs,  indeed,  to  the  re- 
volution in  1775,  it  was  the  aim  and  selfish  policy 
of  England  to  check  the  commerce  of  the  colonies. 

1651.  Oliver  Cromwell  proposed  new  charters  for 
the  colonies,  and  to  appoint  a  governor  general 
then,  as  had  been  proposed  by  Charles  I.  The  Gen- 
eral Court  of  Massachusetts,  said,  with  reference  to 
the  plan — pray  consider  with  what  authority  and 
on  what  condition  we  came  here;  and  what  we 
have  since  done  here.  We  were  the  first  movers 
and  actors  of  so  great  an  enterprize ;  we  were  able  to 
have  lived  well  at  home,  and  needed  not  outward 
things;  but  suffering  severe  persecution  from  the 
bishops,  for  non-conformity  to  ceremonies  against 
our  consciences,  we  thought  it  safest  to  get  to  this 
outside  of  the  world,  and  beyond  their  reach.  We 
therefore  obtained  a  patent  for  a  territory  on  this 

'  western  continent,  and  a  charter  from  the  king,  with 
power  and  liberty  to  live  under  a  government  of  our 
own  laws,  and  magistrates  of  our  own  choice ;  and 
15 


170 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


here  we  have  defended  and  built  ourselves  up,  at 
great  costs  and  sufferings." 

1664  and  1666.  See  page  67.  This  was  a  very 
critical  period,  as  the  common  and  charter  rights 
and  liberties  of  the  New  England  colonies  were  in 
great  danger  of  being  wholly  taken  away,  by  the  ex- 
ercise of  arbitrary  power  in  the  government  of 
Great  Britain.  The  advisers  of  Charles  II,  were  men. 
of  very  arbitrary  principles.  And,  because  of  some 
complaints  from  selfish  persons,  notwithstanding 
the  express  recognition  of  Charles  I,  in  the  char- 
ter, and  the  free  grant  of  power  to  govern  the  colo- 
nies assured  to  the  first  settlers,  and  no  violations  on 
their  part,  the  king  ordered  a  court  of  appeals  from 
all  the  decisions  and  doings  of  the  general  court,  or 
judicial  tribunals  in  the  colonies.  This  was  deemed, 
and  justly,  as  a  fatal  blow  to  all  rule  and  authority 
in  the  colonial  governments,  and  therefore  as  de- 
priving them  of  liberty  as  free-born  subjects  of  Eng- 
land, or  as  members  of  the  republic  or  common- 
wealth here  established.  ,The  soundest  lawyers  in 
England  declared  the  plan  illegal  as  well  as  arbitra- 
ry. The  majority  in  Massachusetts  had  firmness 
enough  to  oppose,  as  well  as  wisdom  to  foresee,  the 
evils  of  such  a  plan,  if  submitted  to.  They  did  not 
submit.  They  stood  firmly  in  defence  of  their  rights, 
as  granted  or  recognized  by  their  charter,  and  be- 
longing to  men  who  might  more  justly  be  said 
to  be  of  another  country  and  another  government. 
The  king  was  displeased,  but  did  not  immediately 
order  an  annulment  of  their  charter:  this  was  not 
done  till  1685,  by  James  II.     He  also  ordered,  or 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


m 


recommended  that  all  persecutions  should  cease 
against  Quakers ;  and  that  Episcopalians  should 
enjoy  full  toleration.  With  these,  Massachusetts 
readily  complied. — He  complained  against  Massa- 
chusetts, also,  for  having  coined  money  in  the  time 
of  Cromwell.  They  excused  the  act,  as  it  was  at  a 
time  when  there  was  great  confusion  in  England  ; 
Charles  I.  being  dead  and  his  son  fled  from  the 
realm,  and  no  permanent  government  being  estab- 
lished; but  at  his  royal  desire,  it  was  discon- 
tinued. Massachusetts  was  not  eager  to  acknowledge 
Cromwell,  nor  did  they  act  in  his  name — and  his  son 
Richard,  they  also  declined  to  acknowledge. 

1680.  The  territory,  which  is  now  the  State  of 
New  Hampshire,  was  granted  to  John  Mason,  as 
early  as  1621,  though  the  bounds  were  not  precisely 
the  same  as  those  of  the  State.  The  tract  granted 
to  and  claimed  by  Mason,  extended  from  Piscata- 
qua  river  to  the  Merrimack,  and  near  Cape  Ann  ; 
for  he  had  two  grants,  in  1621  and  1622.  But  it 
was  not  surveyed  or  attended  to  by  Mason  or  his 
heirs ;  and  there  was  no  fixed  government,  or  con- 
solodation  of  the  towns.  Almost  every  town  had  a 
separate  jurisdiction  of  its  own  ;  and  therefore  it  was 
that  several  of  them,  as  did  many  towns  in  Maine, 
put  themselves  under  the  government  of  Massachu- 
setts. In  1682,  Edward  Cranfied  was  appointed 
governor  of  the  province  of  New  Hampshire  ;  but  it 
never  had  a  charter  as  Massachusetts.  There  was 
a  dispute  kept  up  for  several  years  between  the  gov- 
ernment of  Massachusetts  and  Mason's  and  Gorges' 
heirs,  relating  to  the  jurisdiction  of  the  grants  to 
these  two  individuals.    Mason's  title  was  not  proved 


172 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


to  be  good  in  law,  and  his  claim  was  rejected.  The 
title  and  claims  of  Gorges  were  admitted ;  still  most 
of  the  towns  and  plantations  in  Maine  chose  to  be 
connected  with  the  government  of  Massachusetts. 
The  tract  claimed  by  the  heir  of  Mason  was  made 
a  separate  government  or  province,  and  a  governor 
appointed  by  the  crown. 

Cranfield  was  very  arbitrary  and  capricious ;  he 
treated  Rev.  Mr.  Moody,  the  congregational  minister 
of  Portsmouth  with  great  severity  and  injustice.  He 
ordered  Mr.  Moody  to  administer  to  himself  and 
others,  not  members  of  the  Congregational  church,  the 
sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  ;  and  with  the  pe- 
culiar forms  of  the  Episcopal  church  :  which  Mr. 
Moody  declined  doing.  He  then  imprisoned  Mr. 
Moody,  and  in  various  ways  treated  him  abusively 
and  injuriously. — Mr.  Moody  went  to  Boston  and  re- 
sided there  till  Governor  Cranfield  was  recalled  from 
the  province.  His  conduct,  in  this  instance,  was  as 
improper  and  arbitrary  as  was  that  of  Governor 
Andros,  at  Boston,  in  1689,  towards  the  congrega- 
tional clergy  and  churches  at  that  town. 

1680  and  1681.  It  appears  by  a  letter  from 
Lieutenant  Governor  Stoughton  of  Massachusetts,' to 
Governor  Hinckley  of  Plymouth  colony,  that  the 
laws  of  England  were  not  in  all  cases  strictly  ob- 
served in  Massachusetts  ;  but  deviations  therefrom 
were  often  made,  as  the  peculiar  condition  of  the 
colony  might  require,  or  the  court  might  decide 
most  reasonable  and  just.  The  Plymouth  govern- 
ment were  more  anxious  to  be  bound  by  the  laws  of 
England  ;  or  by  the  common  law  as  there  received. 

1685.    When  the  tolerant  edict  of  the  French 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


173 


monarch  of  1572,  in  favor  of  the  protestants  in  that 
kingdom,  was  repealed  in  1685,  and  they  became 
subject  to  severe  persecutions  and  sufferings  ;  sev- 
eral famihes  came  to  Massachusetts,  and  some  to 
Maine  :  but  the  latter  soon  after  removed  to  Massa- 
chusetts, among  which  was  Baudouin,  the  ancestor 
of  Governor  Bowdoin.  The  company  which  first 
came,  early  purchased  lands  in  what  is  now  Oxford, 
in  the  south  part  of  the  county  of  Worcester.  They 
resided  there  several  years,  and  inhabited  the  grounds 
till  they  were  induced  to  remove  to  Boston,  in  1696^ 
to  avoid  the  attacks  of  the  savages. 

1687.  See  page  77.  There  was  a  very  small 
building,  for  a  very  few  worshippers,  erected  in 
1686,  in  the  time  of  Governor  Andros,  who  was  a 
zealous  Episcopalian  ;  some  believed  him  a  Roman 
Catholic.  In  1710,  this  building  was  enlarged  ;  but 
the  supply  of  rectors  was  not  regular  and  constant. 
In  1749  the  present  church  was  erected.  Christ 
Church  under  Rev.  Dr.  Cutter,  was  the  first  respect- 
able Episcopal  church  in  Boston. 

1690.  The  public  agents  from  Massachusetts  to 
England  previously  to  this  time,  and  under  the  first 
charter,  were  Rev.  Thomas  Weld,  Rev.  Hugh  Pe- 
ters, Rev.  John  Norton,  Rev.  Increase  Mather,  Hon. 
John  Leverett,  Hon.  Simon  Bradstreet,  Hon.  Peter 
Bulkley,  Hon.  Joseph  Dudley,  Hon.  William 
Stoughton,  Hon.  J.  Richards  ;  and  at  a  later  period, 
Jeremiah  Dummer,  Elisha  Cook.  De  Bert,  William 
Bollan,  J.  Maudit,  and  Dr.  Franklin. 

1691.  See  page  78.  King  William  was  not  so 
arbitrary  and  tyrannical  as  the  Stuarts  had  been  ; 
and  his  supporters  professed  whig  principles.  Still 

15  * 


174 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGT. 


he  or  his  courtiers  were  for  exercising  sovereign  pow- 
er over  the  colonies.  Tiiey  considered  them  as  de- 
riving their  civil  privileges  and  authority  from  the 
crown  of  England  j  and  therefore  required  a  com- 
pliance with  its  orders.  In  religious  concerns 
there  was  little  interference  with  the  colonies,  as 
under  James,  the  Charleses,  and  James  II.  Still  the 
patriots  and  republicans  of  Massachusetts  had  to 
struggle  constantly  and  contend  firmly  for  their 
rights  and  liberties.  At  this  time  they  published  a 
solemn  declaration  and  protest,  against  the  author- 
ity or  right  of  any  other  government  over  them, 
than  of  their  own  House  of  Representatives.  This 
controversy  continued,  at  times,  to  the  period  of  the 
revolution,  in  1776.  The  British  administration^ 
and  the  parliament,  required  submission  and  obe- 
dience from  the  colonies,  which  Massachusetts  ex- 
pressly denied  or  impugned. 

1690.  Paper  money  first  issued  by  Massachusetts, 
and  not  in  1710,  as  stated  on  page  84, 

1710.  William  Stoughton,  Jeremiah  Dummer, 
Judge  Leverett,  Judge  Sewall,  John  Bulkley,  Rev. 
William  Brattle,  Rev.  Dr.  Increase  Mather,  and 
Dr.  Cotton  Mather,  were  among  the  most  learned 
men  in  Massachusetts. 

1715.  The  Rev.  Increase  Mather,  and  his  son 
Dr.  Cotton  Mather,  had  good  reason  to  reproach 
Governor  Joseph  Dudley,  while  in  the  chair,  for  his 
arbitrary  and  oppressive  measures  ;  but  the  manner 
was  improper  and  indecorous.  He,  as  well  as  Gov. 
Hutchinson,  at  a  later  day,  was  more  desirous  of 
personal  aggrandizement  than  of  securing  the  liber- 
ties and  welfare  of  the  people. 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


175 


1727.  See  page  88.  There  was  a  small  society 
of  the  Episcopalians  before  this  ;  but  not  of  much 
note  or  influence,  and  their  house  of  worship  was 
also  small  till  1749,  In  1713  they  petitioned  Queen 
Anne,  and  also  the  Bishops  of  England,  for  a  Bishop 
to  be  sent  to  New  England,  but  their  request  was 
not  granted. 

1730.  The  first  Presbyterian  church  was  formed 
in  Boston  ;  and  Rev.  Mr.  Moorehead,  from  Ireland, 
was  the  first  minister.  Most  of  his  society  were 
from  Ireland,  but  of  Scotch  extract.  Their  place  of 
worship  was  in  what  is  now  called  Federal  street. 

1730 — 54.  This  was  a  period  of  peace  and  gen- 
eral prosperity.  There  was,  indeed,  some  disputes 
between  the  governor  and  the  general  court,  res- 
pecting his  salary,  and  the  manner  of  paying  it. 
But  the  Indians  were  generally  friendly,  having  pre- 
viously made  treaties  with  the  province.  And  it 
was  not  till  after  this  time,  that  the  war  began  be- 
tween the  English  and  French,  which  proved  very 
expensive,  and  continued  till  the  year  1763.  The 
expedition  to  Cape  Breton  was  indeed  the  cause  of 
some  expense  to  the  province  ;  but  the  glory  of  it 
was  so  great  that  the  people  did  not  complain.  Nav- 
igation was  not  so  profitable  as  might  have  been,  had 
it  not  been  checked  or  severe  restrictions  laid  upon 
it  by  the  British  government.  But  agriculture  pros- 
pered, and  farming  pursuits  were  attended  with  good 
profits.  And  the  people  at  that  time  were  better 
educated  than  at  any  former  period,  because  of  the 
support  of  common  schools. 

1740.  The  first  company  incorporated  in  Massa- 
chusetts for  the  purpose  of  benefit  to  a  few,  was  that 


176 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


of  the  Land  Bank,  in  1740.  It  proved  a  poor  spec- 
ulation. There  was  much  scheming  in  getting  it 
estabhshed,  and  it  created  a  bad  influence  in  the 
community. 

1762.  See  page  95.  It  has  been  before  men- 
tioned, that  the  expenses  to  Massachusetts,  in  the 
war  with  France,  from  1754  to  1762,  was  very 
great.  This  province  furnished  a  great  number  of 
men,  and  had  them  to  support  and  pay.  But  the 
administration  in  England  ordered  a  reimbursement, 
in  part :  which  proved  a  great  relief,  and  enabled 
the  General  Court  to  call  in  and  redeem  their  paper 
which  had  been  an  evil  for  many  years,  because 
of  fluctuation  in  its  real  value.  Massachusetts  and 
the  ''New  England  colonies  were  always  ready  to 
comply  with  calls  from  the  king  for  troops  to  join 
the  British  army  then  in  America,  to  expel  or  con- 
quer the  French,  who  had  possession  of  Canada, 
and  were  often  attacking  the  English  settlements. 
New  England  was  as  anxious  to  suppress  the 
French,  as  Great  Britain  was.  So  that  they  readily 
assisted  in  the  war  against  them,  which  was  carried 
on  in  North  America.  But  it  is  true,  the  colonial 
governments  acted  voluntarily  in  these  cases.  They 
always  deUberated  before  granting  men  or  money,  at 
the  request  of  England.  The  requisitions  of  the 
British  were  not  always  complied  with,  to  the  extent 
requested  ;  but  the  General  Court  first  considered, 
whether  it  was  proper,  and  whether  they  were  able 
to  comply. 

A  short  time  before  the  peace  of  1763,  a  large 
body  of  troops  went  from  Massachusetts  and  Con- 
necticut to  the  West  Indies,  to  assist  the  English 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY.  177 

against  Spain,  which  had  joined  France  against 
England.  A  large  portion  of  them  died  there  by  the 
sickness  often  prevailing  in  these  islands. 

1763.  The  British  ministry  now  for  the  first  time, 
proposed  a  plan  for  raising  a  revenue  from  the  colo- 
nies, for  the  sole  use  and  benefit  of  their  own  govern- 
ments ;  leaving  the  colonial  governments  to  provide 
for  their  own  debts  which  were  then  great.  The 
British  had  indeed,  before  this  laid  imposts,  and 
restricted  the  trade  of  the  colonies  with  foreign  coun- 
tries, so  as  to  be  for  their  own  peculiar  profit,  and  a 
curtailment  of  the  profits  of  the  colonies.  But  now, 
these  imposts  were  raised  very  high,  and  a  stamp 
act  proposed,  which  was  an  internal  tax ;  and  all 
the  amount  received  was  to  be  at  the  disposal  of 
the  British  ministry.  The  people  in  the  colo- 
nies might  pay  their  debts,  and  support  their  govern- 
ment as  best  they  could.  And  this  was  the  origin 
and  subject  of  the  political  controversy  with  Eng- 
land which  led  to  the  war  of  the  revolution,  in 
1775. 

1775.  See  page  119.  Captain  Manly  had  the 
command  of  the  ship  Hancock,  of  32  guns,  built 
by  the  State  of  Massachusetts  in  1777  or  1778.— But 
he  was  taken  by  a  British  man-of-war  of  sixty-four 
guns — and  was  imprisoned  for  a  long  time, 

1775.  Powder  mills  were  erected  by  order  of  the 
general  court  of  Massachusetts,  at  Andover,  Stough- 
ton,  and  Sutton  :  and  the  manufacture  of  saltpetre 
was  attended  to  by  many  individuals  on  the  recom- 
mendation of  the  court.  In  January,  1776,  the  can- 
non and  military  stores  taken  at  Ticonderoga  and 
Crown  Point,  during  the  preceding  year,  was  con- 


178 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


veyed  to  the  armory  at  Cambridgej  under  General 
Washington. 

The  number  of  pubhc  ships  in  the  naval  service 
of  the  United  States,  has  not  been  ascertained,  but 
it  appears  from  various  accounts  that  the  continental 
State  vessels  were  about  sixty.  The  following  were 
among  the  number  : — 

The  Washington^  The  Sachem^ 


Hancock^ 

Fair- American, 

Randolph^ 

Hyder-Ally, 

Cabot^ 

Tyrannicide, 

J5  on- Homme- Kicnard 

(jrener  at- Moultrie^ 

Pallas, 

Trumhidl, 

Columbus, 

Franklin^ 

Notre-Dame, 

Gates  ^ 

Andrea-Doina, 

Hazard^ 

Polly, 

Protector^ 

Maria, 

Massachusetts. 

Alert, 

Virginia, 

Dolphiji, 

Richmond, 

Reprisal^ 

SoiUh-  Carolina, 

Boston, 

Lexington, 

Providence  J 

Hampden, 

Ranger, 

Raleigh, 

Deane^ 

Lee, 

Alfred, 

Confederacy, 

Saratoga, 

Queen-of- France, 

Hague, 

Alliance, 

Monk,  name  changed. 

Revenge, 

A  large  ship  of  74  guns,  called  the  America,  was 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


179 


built,  but  given  to  France.  Congress  early  in  1775, 
resolved  a  naval  force  to  be  prepared.  But  some  of 
the  above  were  not  built  till  17S0.  The  National  Flag 
was  ordered  by  Congress  in  1777,  to  be  stars  and 
stripes.  The  first  prize  taken  from  the  British  was 
by  Capt.  Manly,  in  a  privateer  in  1775. 

1775.  In  November,  1775,  a  superior  court  was 
organized  in  Massachusetts,  and  John  Adams,  Wil- 
liam Cashing,  N.  P.  Sargent,  R.  T.  Paine,  and  Wil- 
liam Reed  Avere  appointed  chief  justices.  Paine  and 
Reed  declined,  and  Jedediah  Foster  and  James  Sul- 
livan were  appointed.  Mr.  Adams  also  resigned  in 
a  few  months,  as  his  services  in  the  continental  con- 
gress would  not  admit  his  attendance  in  the  court. 
Chief  justices  after  him  were  William  Cashing,  N. 
P.  Sargent,  Francis  Dana,  Theophilus  Parsons,  &c. 

1775.  Dr.  Edward  Church  of  Boston,  who  had 
appeared  to  be  an  ardent  patriot,  and  was  often  em- 
ployed in  the  public  service,  and  in  confidential  busi- 
ness, was  suspected  of  an  improper  correspondence 
with  the  British.  His  conduct  was  at  this  time  very 
unaccountable  to  his  friends,  and  a  letter  written  in 
cyphers  by  him  to  an  officer  in  Boston  was  found, 
which  led  to  his  arrest  by  the  General  Court,  of  which 
he  was  then  a  member.  It  was  evident  that  he  had 
given  information  to  the  British,  in  Boston,  respect- 
ing the  scanty  means  of  defence  which  the  Ameri- 
cans had  ;  such  as  no  true  patriot  would  have  given, 
and  which  was  intended  for  the  benefit  of  the  British. 
There  was  not  full  proof,  however,  that  he  had  en- 
gaged in  any  other  improper  conduct,  yet  he  was  ad- 
judged to  have  committed  an  improper  act,  and  was 
dismissed  the  House  of  Representatives.    He  was 


180  NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 

sometime  confined ;  and  then  allowed  to  go  to  New- 
port, where  he  had  family  friends.  He  soon  after 
sailed  for  the  West  Indies,  and  was  lost  on  the  pas- 
sage. He  was  a  learned  man,  and  an  able  writer. 
He  was  a  graduate  of  Harvard  college  in  1759,  and 
of  the  same  class  as  the  immortal  Warren. 

1775.  Soon  after  the  British  troops  made  an  at- 
tack on  the  Americans  at  Lexington  and  Concordj 
the  militia  collected  in  large  numbers  at  Cambridge 
and  Roxbury,  under  Generals  Ward  and  Thomas. 
They  have  been  estimated  at  twelve  or  fifteen,  but 
never  at  forty  thousand,  as  a  late  writer  has  said,  in 
order  to  carry  a  point  of  controversy.  Two  or  three 
thousand  came  from  Connecticut,  Rhode  Island,  and 
New  Hampshire.  General  Washington  took  com- 
mand of  them,  by  appointment  of  Congress,  on  the 
third  of  July ;  and  the  militia  from  Virginia  and 
South  Carolina  joined  also  :  and  the  whole  was  call- 
ed the  army  of  the  United  States,  or  the  American 
army.  When  the  time  of  their  enlistment  was  out, 
the  last  of  December,  it  was  not  without  great  diffi- 
culty that  others  were  enlisted  to  supply  their  places. 

Some  of  the  people,  who  were  more  ardent  than 
wise,  blamed  Gen.  Washington  for  not  attacking  the 
British  in  Boston  :  but  had  it  proved  unsuccessful, 
the  consequences  must  have  been  highly  injurious  to 
the  Americans.  The  British  troops  would  probably 
have  pursued  them  on  their  retreat,  and  routed  the 
militia  at  Roxbury  and  Cambridge.  The  American 
troops  were  poorly  furnished  with  arms  or  powder 
and  ball ;  and  they  had  few  cannon.  The  British 
were  well  armed  ;  and  had  a  fort  on  Boston  neck 
well  furnished  with  cannon.     Washington  was  in 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


181 


favor  of  an  attack,  but  a  council  of  war  disapproved. 
But  it  is  supposed  he  would  have  undertaken  it  in 
February,  1776,  when  he  received  some  cannon  from 
Ticonderoga,  but  it  was  to  be  on  the  ice,  across  the 
bay  between  Cambridge  and  Boston  ;  and  this  was 
not  sufficient  after  the  cannon  arrived. 

1770—75.  Tlie  people  in  New  England,  and  in 
the  colonies  generally,  were  very  averse  from  war 
with  Great  Britain,  with  which  they  had  long  been 
connected,  and  on  which  they  had  in  some  measure 
depended.  They  called  England  the  parent  coun- 
try :  and  they  readily  acknowledged  allegiance  to 
the  crown ;  though  it  was  little  more  than  a  nomi- 
nal submission.  They,  therefore,  bore  long  with 
the  oppressive  measures  of  the  British  ministry, 
which  were  the  exercise,  or  a  claim  to  exercise,  more 
authority  over  the  colonies,  than  before  that  period  ; 
and  which  indicated  a  purpose  of  governing  them  at 
will,  and  thus  treating  them  as  humble  vassals,  and 
destitute  of  the  rights  of  freemen.  They  petitioned 
and  remonstrated  many  years  before  they  took  up 
arms  against  Great  Britain  ;  and  then  only  acted  on 
the  defensive^  when  attacked,  on  their  own  soil,  and 
in  their  own  dearly  bought  territory.  This  they 
had  fairly  and  fully  purchased,  for  the  sake  of  re- 
ligion and  liberty  for  themselves  and  posterity.--And 
this  they  resolved  to  defend,  even  by  the  sword, 
when  all  other  means  failed.  They  were  not  then 
rebels ;  they  were  not  excited  by  selfish  and  am- 
bitious individuals* 

1775,  Aug.     The  dysentery  prevailed  in  many 
places,  and  proved  uncommonly  mortal.  Upwards 
of  forty  died  of  the  disease  in  Newton.     It  carried 
16 


182 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


oif  a  great  number  of  the  American  army  at  Cam- 
bridge. Some  supposed  it  originated  in  the  camp  ; 
others  attributed  it  to  the  temperature  of  the  weather. 
This  fatal  disease  prevailed  again  extensively  in  the 
United  States,  in  1776. 

1775.  New  Bedford  had  employed  nearly  fifty 
large  vessels  in  the  whale  fishery ;  but  the  business 
was  suspended  by  the  war.  In  1774,  several  ships 
were  sent  from  Massachusetts  to  the  Falkland 
Islands  to  take  whales.  At  this  time  about  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  vessels  were  employed  in  the  whale 
fishery,  from  Nantucket.  Some  of  them  at  this 
time,  went  to  the  north,  to  Cape  Breton,  and  vicin- 
ity ;  to  the  Labrador  coasts  and  up  Davis'  straits. 

1775 — 76.  The  people  in  Massachusetts  and  ad- 
joining States  suffered  greatly  for  want  of  bread. 
The  British  vessels  on  the  coasts  were  very  numer- 
ous ;  so  that  little  flour  or  corn  were  brought  from 
the  Southern  States,  whence  large  quantities  were 
usually  transported.  The  scarcity  was  so  great, 
that  it  might  be  said  there  was  almost  a  famine.  In 
some  towns  the  people  ground  and  pressed  green  corn 
stalks,  and  extracted  a  syrup  which  was  used  as  a 
substitute  for  molasses.  And  bread  was  made  of 
flax-seed.  War  always  has  its  evils;  but  the  people 
of  New  England,  though  not  fond  of  it  at  any  time, 
prefered  it  to  the  loss  of  their  liberty  and  to  slavery. 
In  1777,  and  1778,  the  condition  of  the  people  re- 
mained much  the  same  in  this  respect.  Though  in 
various  parts  of  the  eastern  States,  the  people  raised 
more  grain  than  they  had  done  before.  Many  who  had 
been  engaged  in  the  fishing  business,  and  in  other 
branches  of  navigation,  now  gave  their  attention  to 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


183 


farming ;  except  that  a  great  part  went  into  the 
army. 

With  all  these  family  privations,  and  insufficiency 
of  resources,  the  people  made  efforts  to  pay  the  heavy 
taxes  called  for,  and  bore  the  public  burthen  gener- 
ally, without  complaint  against  their  rulers.  No 
doubt,  there  were  some  who  paid  with  reluctance, 
and  were  almost  ready  to  despair. 

1776.  When  Congress  resolved  to  raise  an  army 
of  75,000  men  for  1777,  the  proportion  required  of 
Massachusetts  was  one  fifth,  or  15,000 :  but  not 
more  than  two  thirds  of  the  number  could  be  enlist- 
ed immediately. 

1776,  March  17th.  The  British  vessels,  with 
the  troops  composing  the  army,  which  had  been  in 
Boston  a  year,  and  a  part  more  than  a  year,  left 
Boston  harbor.  Some  for  Halifax,  and  some  for 
New  York. — There  were  480,000  inhabitants  in 
Massachusetts,  including  Maine,  at  this  time.  Some 
g^id  this  was  too  low  an  estimate.  Five  thousand 
two  hundred  and  fifty  were  blacks  ;  and  these  most- 
ly slaves.  For  eight  years  after,  1784,  the  number 
increased  only  9500. 

1777 — 78.  A  great  body  of  the  militia  from  Massa- 
chusetts and  Connecticut,  was  ordered  to  drive  the 
British  from  Rhode  Island,  who  then  had  possession  of 
Newport ;  and  a  British  fleet  was  also  in  the  harbor. 
But  the  expedition  v/as  not  prosecuted  with  much  en- 
ergy, and  produced  no  important  result.  The  militia 
assembled  at  Providence,  Bristol,  and  Tiverton,  but 
were  not  able  to  effect  a  landing  on  the  island.  In 
1778,  a  more  formidable  expedition  was  got  up  for 
the  purpose  of  gaining  possession  of  the  island,  still 


184 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


occupied  by  the  British  ;  the  miUtia  called  there  was 
large ;  and  two  brigades  of  the  regular  continental 
army  were  also  ordered  there,  in  the  hope  of  obliging 
the  British  troops  to  evacuate  the  island.  Some 
French  troops  assisted  the  Americans  at  this  time. 
General  Lafayette  was  there,  and  visited  Boston  for 
the  first  time.  Major-General  Sullivan,  of  New 
Hampshire,  commanded  the  whole.  John  Hancock 
'had  the  immediate  command  of  the  militia,  with  the 
rank  of  Major-General.  They  effected  a  landing, 
and  advanced  to  within  a  short  distance  of  Newport. 
The  British  soon  sent  out  a  part  of  their  troops  to 
check  the  Americans  ;  and  this  brought  on  a  battle 
of  some  hours,  after  which  the  latter  fell  back  :  and 
the  next  day  General  Sullivan  ordered  a  retreat  from 
the  island  :  which  was  conducted  in  good  order,  and 
with  very  little  loss.  A  French  fleet,  which  ex- 
pected to  co-operate  with  Sullivan,  did  not  arrive, 
and  it  was  deemed  most  prudent  to  retire  from  the 
island. 

1779.  In  September,  John  Jay,  of  New  York, 
then  president  of  Congress,  was  appointed  Min- 
ister Plenipotentiary  to  the  court  of  Madrid,  and 
Samuel  Huntington  of  Connecticut  was  chosen  pres- 
ident. Mr.  Huntington  was  afterwards  governor  of 
that  State  for  several  years. 

1779,  September.  A  convention  was  held  in 
Massachusetts,  to  prepare  a  constitution,  or  form  of 
civil  government  for  the  State.  The  measure  was 
proposed  by  the  General  Court,  or  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives and  council,  to  the  people,  the  majority  of 
whom  approved  of  it,  and  chose  delegates  to  attend 
it.    The  number  of  delegates  was  equal  to  that  of 


NfiW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


185 


representatives.  James  Bowdoin  was  president  of 
the  convention.  A  constitution  was  prepared,  and 
submitted  to  the  people,  and  the  greater  part  ex- 
pressed their  acceptance  of  it  in  17S0  ;  and  in  Octo- 
ter  of  that  year,  the  government  was  organized  ac- 
cording to  it  provision. 

1780,  May  19th.  This  was  an  uncommonly  dark 
day  in  most  parts  of  the  New  England  States ;  but 
the  darkness  did  not  extend  beyond  the  North  river. 
It  was  greatest  in  New  Hampshire,  and  Essex 
county,  in  Massachusetts.  It  was  as  dark  as  it 
commonly  is  at  one  hour  after  sunset,  on  a  cloudy- 
day.  Candles  were  used,  to  enable  people  to  see 
sufficiently  at  the  dinner  table.  It  came  on  about 
ten  or  eleven  o'clock,  A.  M.  The  degree  of  darkness 
was  greatest  from  twelve  to  one  o'clock,  P.  M.  The 
common  people  were  much  alarmed  ;  some  thought 
it  was  the  day  of  judgment.  It  was  the  opinion  of 
learned  and  observing  men  that  the  darkness  was 
caused  by  extensive  tires,  which  had  raged  in  the 
south-westerly  part  of  Maine,  and  in  the  interior  and 
northern  parts  of  New  Hampshire,  for  several  days 
previous.  It  was  also  supposed  by  some  that  two  ex- 
tensive bodies  of  clouds,  one  from  the  south-west  and 
the  other  from  the  north-east,  met  over  the  New 
England  States,  where  the  darkness  was,  and  aided 
in  causing  it.  The  darkness  of  the  night  following 
was  also  uncommonly  great.  It  was  an  Egyptian 
darkness.  Even  white  cloth  or  paper  held  up  before 
the  eye,  and  within  a  few  inches,  could  not  be  per- 
ceived. 

1780.    In  an  address  to  the  people,  when  a  new 
tax  was  called  for,  Congress  says,  "  that  we  formerly 
16^ 


186     '       New  eng^land  chronology. 


paid  £3,000,000  sterling  annually  to  Engand,  in  the 
way  of  trade."  In  the  address,  it  is  also  stated, 
"  that  Congress  had  then  received  of  the  people  in 
all  the  States  upwards  of  $36,000,000,  since  the 
war  began." 

1780.  See  page  136.  The  plan  of  General  Ben- 
edict Arnold  to  deliver  the  fortress  and  army  at 
West  Point,  the  place  of  head-quarters  of  the  Amer- 
ican army,  in  the  absence  of  General  Washington, 
who  was  absent  a  few  days,  was  the  only  instance  of 
real  treachery  in  any  officer  during  the  war.  In  the 
case  of  General  Charles  Lee,  at  the  battle  of  Mon- 
mouth, in  New  Jersey,  June  28,  1778,  he  was 
strongly  suspected  of  treacherous  designs;  and  of 
a  neglect  of  his  duty,  so  as  to  give  advantage  to  the 
British  troops  on  this  occasion.  He  was  ordered  un- 
der arrest  by  Washington,  for  his  remissness 
and  neglect  to  obey  the  orders  of  Washington  on 
that  day.  A  court  martial  found  him  guilty  of  the 
charge  of  disobedience  to  the  orders  of  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief; and  he  was  suspended  from  his 
command  in  the  service  of  the  army  in  the  United 
States  for  a  year.  General  Lee  had  been  an  officer 
in  the  British  army,  and  came  to  America  in  1774, 
from  a  professed  attachment  to  the  cause  of  civil 
liberty.  After  this,  Arnold  went  from  New  York, 
with  British  troops,  en  marauding  excursions, 
against  towns  on  the  sea  coasts;  and  manifested  a 
most  malignant  spirit,  by  burning  houses,  and  treat- 
ing the  people  with  great  insolence  and  severity. 

1780.  See  page  136.  At  one  period,  American 
prisoners  of  this  description  were  very  numer- 
ous in  confinement  in  England.      And  in  some 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


187 


cases,  their  treatment  was  unnecessarily  severe.  The 
crews  of  such  vessels  were  also  generally  imprisoned. 

1780.  See  page  137.  Many  of  the  refugees,  or  tories, 
as  they  Avere  usually  called,  left  large  landed  estates 
when  they  went  to  England,  at  the  commencement 
of  the  war.  In  Massachusetts  their  estates  were  de- 
clared forfeited  to  the  State  ;  but  when  sold,  brought 
little  into  the  public  treasury.  Lands  were  low  at 
this  time  ;  and  the  expenses  attending  the  sales  were 
great. 

1783.  See  page  139.  Some  writers  have  asserted 
that  the  people  of  color  held  in  slavery  here  were 
more  comfortable,  and  in  better  condition,  than  after 
they  became  free.  Their  masters  treated  them 
kindly,  and  generally  they  received  a  good  common 
education. 

1783.  See  page  140.  There  was  a  Society  in 
and  for  each  State.  The  original  members  in  Mas- 
sachusetts, being  commissioned  officers  of  the  conti- 
nental army  at  the  close  of  the  war,  were  three  hun- 
dred and  thirty-six — a  few  only  did  not  join  the  So- 
ciety. In  1843,  July  4th,  there  were  fourteen  of 
these  who  still  survived  :  a  period  of  sixty  years. 

1784 — 85.  See  page  148.  Goods  to  the  amount 
of  $30,000,000  were  imported  from  England  into 
the  United  States ;  but  only  9,000,000  products  ex- 
ported during  the  same  time.  This  drained  the 
country  of  specie,  and  impoverished  the  people. 

1785.  See  page  146.  The  proposition  for  form- 
ing the  District  of  Maine,  into  a  separate  and  in- 
dependent State,  then  a  part  of  the  State  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, was  first  made  in  1785  :  and  in  Oc- 
tober of  that  year,  a  convention  was  held  at  Fal- 


188 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


mouth,  now  Portland,  to  consider  the  propriety  of 
urging  the  subject,  and  the  benefit  of  a  distinct  gov- 
ernment for  Maine.  The  number  of  delegates  in 
the  convention  was  thirty-four — from  twenty  towns. 
A  second  convention  was  holden  in  September  1786, 
when  delegates  were  present  from  the  same  number 
of  towns — the  whole  number  of  members  being  thir- 
ty-one. There  was  a  third  meeting  in  September 
1787 — but  few  persons  attended  it ;  and  as  a  writer 
of  the  day  says,  "the  convention  expired  without  a 
groan,  or  a  single  mourner  to  weep  over  its  remains." 

1787.  See  page  146.  No  fire  in  Boston  for  many 
years  before  or  after  this,  was  so  extensive  and  des- 
tructive. 

1788.  See  page  139.  A  law  was  passed  by  the 
legislature  of  Massachusetts  to  abolish  slavery.  It 
had  not  been  approved  or  practiced  after  the  year 
1783,  when  the  Supreme  Judicial  Court  decided  that 
it  was  not  legal  ;  and  public  opinion  was  against  it 
after  1780,  when  the  constitution  of  the  State  was 
adopted,  which  declares  all  men  to  be  free  and  equal. 
The  statesmen  of  that  day  saw  the  inconsistency  of 
slavery  with  that  theoretic  truth. — Many  people  of 
color  also  who  had  been  held  in  slavery  in  Massa- 
chusetts, enlisted  in  the  army  of  the  United  States, 
and  served  faithfully,  as  good  soldiers.  In  the  cen- 
sus for  1790,  none  are  returned  or  mentioned  as 
slaves ;  but  in  1764,  the  number  of  slaves  were  dis- 
tinctly given.  After  the  constitution  of  New  Hamp- 
shire was  adopted,  in  1783,  which  also  declared 
that  "  all  men  are  born  free  and  equal,"  it  was  de- 
cided that  those  born  after  their  constitution  was 
adopted  were  free  ;  but  those  born  in  bondage  were 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


189 


not  liberated.  The  slave  trade  in  Massachusetts 
was  expressly  prohibited  by  law,  in  March  1788. — 
The  association  of  clergymen  in  Boston  prepared  a 
remonstrance  and  a  memorial,  and  it  was  signed  by 
a  great  number  of  the  most  respectable  citizens  ;  and 
some  of  the  society  of  Quakers  also  petitioned  the 
General  Court  on  the  subject.  Two  hundred 
pounds  as  a  fine,  was  imposed  on  any  one  concerned 
in  acting  in  that  traffic;  either  taking  and  bringing 
them  from  Africa  and  selling  them  elsewhere— or 
carrying  thom  from  this  country  and  selling  them 
as  slaves.  The  excitement  on  this  subject,  at  the 
time,  was  specially  owing  to  the  conduct  of  the  own- 
er of  a  vessel,  a  native  citizen  of  Connecticut,  who 
hired  three  black  men  to  work  on  board  his  vessel  ; 
while  they  were  at  work  in  the  hold,  not  suspect- 
ing any  evil  designs  against  them,  the  vessel  sailed, 
and  they  were  carried  to  one  of  the  islands  in  the 
West  Indies  and  sold. 

1789.  The  first  members  of  the  federal  govern- 
ment, when  organized  in  April,  1789,  from  Massa- 
chusetts were  Caleb  Strong  and  Tristram  Dalton. — 
Senators — Fisher  Ames,  Elbridge  Gerry,  George 
Partridge,  Benjamin  Goodhue,  Jonathan  Grout, 
George  Leonard,  Theodore  Sedgwick,  and  George 
Thacher. 

The  opposers  of  the  federal  government  were 
chiefly  theoretical  statesmen  and  politicians.  Practi- 
cal men,  merchants,  mechanics  and  farmers  gen- 
erally were  in  favor  of  it ;  as  they  wanted  protec- 
tion, and  some  check  to  the  great  importations,  with 
little  or  no  duties.  They  asked  for  the  regulation  of 
trade  and  commerce,  so  as  that  a  fair  reciprocity 


190 


NEW   ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


might  be  established,  and  an  encouragement  given 
to  domestic  manufactures  and  home  products.  And, 
it  was  soon  found,  that  their  hopes  and  expectations 
were  not  in  vain.  Protection  was  afforded,  but 
not  sufficient,  for  many  years,  for  the  development 
of  the  great  resources  of  the  country. 

1790.  There  was  a  favorable  change  in  the  busi- 
ness and  prosperity  of  the  United  States,  when  the 
policy  and  laws  of  the  federal  government  had  their 
proper  influence ;  but  in  no  section  of  the  country 
was  it  more  apparent  than  in  the  New  England 
States,  where  commerce  and  navigation  employed  so 
many  people.  The  mechanic  found  a  profitable 
business  as  well  as  merchants  and  ship  owners. 

1790.  The  number  of  Indians  in  Massachusetts, 
at  this  date,  was  far  less  than  at  the  first  settlement 
of  New  England,  probably  not  one  fourth.  In  Mas- 
sachusetts, only  a  few  families  were  to  be  found  ; 
one  family  at  Natick. — So  late  as  1753,  there  were 
twenty-four  families.— At  Grafton  there  were  more  ] 
about  thirty  persons.— And  a  few  remained  at 
Stoughton.  In  the  old  colony  they  were  more  nu^ 
merous.  In  1764,  there  were  nearly  a  thousand. 
But  in  1790,  they  had  greatly  decreased ;  and  they 
intermarried  with  the  Africans  and  Mulattos,  so  that 
it  was  difficult  to  ascertain  the  true  number  of  pure 
Indian  blood.  They  resided  chiefly  in  Eastham, 
Barnstable,  at  the  Yineyard,  Plymouth,  Middlebo- 
rough  and  Dartmouth.  In  1690,  it  was  estimated 
there  were  1450  or  1500  pure  blooded  Indians  in  the 
old  colony  of  Plymouth  ;  a  great  portion  of  them 
professing  Christianity,  and  attending  statedly  on 
religious  worship  and  instructions  ;  in  1780,  and 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


191 


1790,  they  were  less  attentive  to  religion.  Perhaps 
they  had  not  means  afforded  them,  as  formerly  they 
had. 

1790  and  1800.  Infidelity,  which  prevailed  in 
France  and  England,  at  this  period,  was  openly 
avowed  by  many  of  the  genteel  part  of  the  commu- 
nity, and  of  superficial  education,  in  America.  But 
several  able  treatises  were  published  in  defence'  of 
revelation,  and  served  to  convince  most  of  those  who 
read  with  a  desire  to  find  the  truth,  of  the  divine  or- 
igin of  Christianity  ;  and  a  more  healthy  state  of 
religion  and  morals  soon  after  prevailed.  The  cler- 
gy were  not  dismissed,  nor  the  doors  of  the  Church 
shut  up,  however ;  yet  religious  institutions  were 
much  neglected,  and  an  unusual  indifference  mani- 
fested on  the  subject  of  religion  generally. 

1791.  Governor  Bowdoin  died  this  year,  and  a 
public  eulogy  was  pronounced  on  his  character  as 
a  patriot,  statesman  and  scholar,  a  thing  not  common 
at  that  time.  He  well  deserved  such  distinguished 
notice.  He  was  a  sincere  patriot,  he  was  long  and 
usefully  devoted  to  the  service  of  the  common- 
wealth, and  he  ranked  among  the  most  learned  men 
of  his  time.  He  was  president  of  the  American 
Academy  of  Arts,  from  its  formation  to  the  time  of 
his  decease.  Hon.  Judge  Lowell  pronounced  his 
eulogy. 

1792.  See  page  149.  There  was  a  law  then  in 
force  and  of  long  standing,  on  the  subject  of  the 
Christian  Sabbath ;  but  it  was  deemed  proper  to 
form  a  new  statute  more  definite,  and  also  to  call 
the  attention  of  the  rising  generation  to  the  sub- 


192 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


ject.  It  was  ordered  to  be  read  publicly  on  the 
Lord's  day-,  by  the  clergy. 

1792.  The  Agricultural  Society  of  Massachusetts 
was  established.  And  this  led  to  the  formation  of 
other  similar  societies  ;  which  have  led  to  great  im- 
provements in  cultivating  the  land,  and  in  the  breed 
of  cattle. 

1794.  The  Massachusetts  Charitable  Fire  So- 
ciety was  formed  this  year.  George  R.  Minot  was 
the  first  president. 

1795.  The  Massachusetts  Charitable  Mechanics 
Association  was  now  established.  It  is  large  and 
highly  respectable.  The  mechanics  of  Boston  are 
among  the  most  respectable  of  its  citizens. 

1796.  The  Medical  Dispensary  was  established  ; 
and  has  proved  a  great  blessing  to  the  poor. 

1800.  New  Hampshire  contained  about  180,000 
inhabitants  at  this  time.  It  then  had  four  mem- 
bers of  Congress,  and  Massachusetts  fourteen. 

1800.  There  were  at  this  time  twelve  Acade- 
mies in  the  State  of  Massachusetts,  and  four  in 
Maine, — viz  :  at  Andover,  Marblehead,  Sandwich, 
Framingham,  Westford,  Hingham  and  Leicester. 

1803.  The  Female  Asylum  in  Boston,  was 
founded  in  1803,  under  the  patronage  of  the  ladies  of 
that  town  ;  and  the  government  of  it  is  in  their 
hands. 

1803.    See  page  150.    Bishop  Bass  died  in  1803, 
and  was  succeeded  by  Dr.  Samuel  Parker,  of  Boston 
but  not  till  some  time  after ;  who  died  within  a  few 
months  after  his  consecration,  before  he  performed 
any  special  act  of  the  office. 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHKONOLOGY. 


193 


1803.  See  page  149,  The  Middlesex  canal  pro- 
jected ill  1792,  was  not  completed  till  1802. 

1805.  See  page  152.  The  State  prison  in  Charles- 
town  was  not  ready  to  receive  convicts  till  this 
year. 

1807.  See  page  154.  James  Perkins,  an  opu- 
lent merchant,  gave  a  large  sum  to  the  institution, 
by  which  a  spacious  building  was  purchased  for  the 
library,  for  a  reading  room,  and  for  portraits  and 
busts  of  learned  men. 

1812.  ^  Rev.  Joseph  S.  Buckminster  died,  at  the 
age  of  thirty-eight.  He  had  been  the  minister 
of  the  church  and  society  in  Brattle  square,  Boston, 
seven  years  ;  having  been  ordained  in  1805.  Mr. 
Buckminster  was  eminent  as  a  Biblical  and  Belles 
Lettres  scholar,  a  writer  and  preacher  above  his 
contemporaries,  even  the  most  learned  and  eloquent. 
He  was  wholly  devoted  to  his  sacred  profession. 
The  study  of  theology  was  his  delight  :  and  his 
object  was  to  communicate  the  knowledge  he  ob- 
tained to  his  people,  for  their  benefit  and  improve- 
ment. He  was  a  powerful  preacher,  and  in  his  ap- 
peals to  his  hearers,  to  press  upon  them  the  im- 
portance of  religion,  he  was  highly  eloquent.  He 
made  many  converts  among  the  more  intelligent 
part  of  his  society.  At  the  time  of  his  death,  he 
was  reputed  the  best  Biblical  scholar  of  his  time. 

1813.  Rev.  John  Eliot,  D.  D.,  of  the  New 
North  church  in  Boston,  died  in  1813.  Rev.  Jere- 
miah Belknap,  D.  D.,  pastor  of  the  society  in  Fed- 
eral street,  died  in  June,  1798.  Rev.  John  Clark, 
D.  D.,  pastor  of  the  First  church,  died  in  April, 
1798.    Rev.  Simeon  Howard,  D.  D.,  pastor  of  the 

17 


194 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


West  church  in  Boston,  died  August  1804.  Rev. 
Peter  Thacher,  D.  D.,  pastor  of  Brattle  street 
church,  died  1802.  Rev.  Samuel  Stillman,  pastor 
of  First  Baptist  church,  died  1807.  Rev.  WiHiam 
Emerson,  minister  of  First  church,  died  1811. 
Rev.  John  Lathrop,  D.  D.,  minister  of  New  Brick, 
or  Second  church,  died  in  1816. 

These  were  all  learned,  pious,  and  useful  minis- 
ters of  religious  societies  ;  and  shone  as  lights  in 
their  generation. 

1815,  September.  There  was  a  very  severe  gale, 
or  hurricane  it  might  well  be  called,  in  a  great  part 
of  New  England  ;  but  it  was  the  most  severe  and 
destructive  in  Massachusetts  and  Rhode  Island. 
Such  a  gale  had  not  been  known  in  this  latitude  for 
more  than  a  hundred  years.  The  tide  rose  at  Prov- 
idence more  than  twenty  feet  higher  than  usual ; 
and  in  the  southern  bays  and  habors  of  Massachu- 
setts, nearly  as  high.  At  Boston,  ten  or  twelve  feet. 
Chimnies  were  blown  down,  large  limbs  of  trees 
were  twisted  or  broken  of,  and  trees  of  a  foot  and  a 
half  diameter  were  torn  from  their  roots  and  pros- 
trated. 

There  was  a  great  storm  in  New  England,  in 
August,  1635,  when  the  tide  rose  twenty  feet  higher 
than  common. 

1816.  The  Provident  Institution  for  Savings  in 
Boston,  was  formed  this  year  ;  chiefly  for  the  benefit 
of  the  laboring  and  poorer  classes  of  people. 

1816.  See  page  158.  The  object  of  the  Society 
was  to  show  the  evils  of  war ;  that  most  might  be 
prevented  by  negotiation  ;  that  the  prevalence  of  a 
true  Christian  spirit  was  opposed  to  war;  and  that 


NEW  ENGLAND  CHRONOLOGY. 


195 


only  defensive  wars  were  justifiable.  Some  of  the 
members  have  declared  even  against  these,  as  mijus- 
tifiable  and  anti-Christian. 

1819.  A  convention  was  held  in  Maine,  composed 
of  delegates  from  all  the  towns  in  the  District,  and 
chosen  by  the  people,  to  consult  on  the  expediency 
of  forming  it  into  a  separate  State.  The  majority 
were  in  favor  of  the  measure  ;  though  ten  years  be- 
fore, the  majority  did  not  give  their  votes  for  a  sep- 
aration from  Massachusetts.  The  new  government 
was  organized  in  1820. 

1820.  A  convention  was  called,  by  the  consent  of 
the  majority  in  Massachusetts,  to  consider  the  sub- 
ject of  alterations  in  the  constitution  of  the  State.  It 
had  then  been  framed  forty  years  ;  and  was  general- 
ly well  adapted  to  the  character  and  views  of  the 
people,  and  fully  competent  to  maintain  their  rights 
and  liberties.  Still  some  believed  alterations  might 
be  made  which  would  be  amendments.  Some  changes 
were  proposed  by  the  convention,  and  approved 
and  adopted  by  the  majority  of  the  people.  In  1795, 
the  question  was  submitted  to  the  people,  whether 
there  should  be  a  convention  to  make  alterations  in 
the  constitution,  when  the  majority  gave  an  opiniorjj 
that  it  was  then  unnecessary," 


I 


^  1^  ^  ^  o 


ABOLITION  OF  SLAVERY,  prohibited  in  Massachusetts,    .   S3  139 

ACADEMIES;  in  Massachusetts,   192 

ACADEMY,  of  Arts  and  Sciences,    136^ 

AGENTS,  Public  to  England,                                               .  173 

AFRICANS  taken  and  sold  as  slaves,     ........  57  88  113 

"         treated  as  slaves  in  ail  the  American  Colonies,   .    .  113 

ARNOLD'S  TREACHERY,   136 

ARNOLD'S  TREACHERY,   186 

ARMY,  American,  large,  ordered  to  be  raised,   123 

"          "        at  Cambridge,  in  1775,  number  of,    .    !    .    .  180 
"          "        in  1775  and  1776,    ..........  180  123 

"        deficient  in  arms  and  military  stores,     .    .    .  120  123 

"           "        disbanded  in  1783   142 

AMERICA,  discovered  by  Cabot  in  1497,   6 

"  "        not  probably  known  to  northmen  in  9th  or 

"           "               10th  century,   5 

"           "         visited  by  French  in  1525  and  1534,     .    .    ,  7 

"           "        French  settled  in  some  parts  in  1604,   ...  7 

"           "        French  and  English  fished  on  coast  of,    .    .  8 

"           "        English  first  settled  in,  1596  and  1620,  ...  12 

ASSISTANTS,  in  Massachusetts,   31 

ATHEN^UM,  in  Boston,  established,   154 

BANK,  Land,  in  Massachusetts,   176 

"        of  United  States,                                                  .  138 

"        of  Massachusetts,  •    .  142 

BATTLE,  of  Bunker  Hill,   120 

"          at  Concord,   121 

"          of  Monmouth,   131 

BAPTIST  MEETING  HOUSE,  first  erected  in  Boston,   ...  72 

BOSTON,  donations  to,  in  1775,   119 

"        voted  to  suspend  importations  from  England,   .    .    .  103 

*'        vessels  of,  seized,  and  impressments  of  men,  ....  105 

"        Port  Bill,  and  riot  followed,   Ill 

BOWDOIN  Governor,    .    .    .    .  _   191 

BREAD  very  scarce  in  New  England,  in  1775  and  1776,    ...  182 
17* 


198  INDEX. 

BRITISH  MINISTRY;  propose  to  tax  America,     .    .       .    .  771 

BRITAIN,  GREAT  Nova  Scotia  ceded  to,   84 

BRITISH,  goods  imported  to  a  great  amount,   143 

"         army,  part  of,  captured,   183 

evacuate  Boston,   123 

"         from  Canada,  captured,  ...........  126 

CAPE  COD,  visited  by  Gosnard,  in  1602^   Il 

CHINA,  voyages  to,   145 

CRANFIELD,  Governor  of  New  Hampshire,   171 

"             his  arbitrary  conduct  towards  Rev.  Mr.  Moody,  .  172 

CHURCHES,  date  and  order  of,     .    .    :   33  73 

CHARLES  II.,  proposed  to  alter  the  charter  of  Massachusetts    .  170 

CINCINNATI  SOCIETY,  established,   140 

"                 "           of  Massachusetts,   187 

CLERGY,  of  New  England,  men  of  learning,   168 

favored  the  war,   ...        ...  112 

CONSTITUTION,  prepared  for  Massachusetts,  in  1777,  but  re- 

"                  jected  by  the  people,   177 

"             adopted  in  1780,   127 

"              of  Massachusetts,   184 

CONGRESS,  first  Provincial,   112 

CONCORD,  battle  of,   121 

COUNTY  CONVENTIONS,   114 

CUSHMAN,  ROBERT,   165 

CONGRESS,  GENERAL,  in  1774,   112 

COURT,  GENERAL,  deputies  to,   167 

COMMON  LAW,  of  England   172 

CORRESPONDENCE  with  other  Colonies,  100  105 

COMMISSIONERS,  as  a  Court  of  Appeals,   67 

CROMWELL,  his  character  and  policy,   59 

DARK  DAY  in  New  England,   185 

DEBT  of  Massachusetts,  137  148 

DERMER,  Captain,   164 

DUDLEY,  President,  and  arbitrary,     .     .   77 

DANCING  SCHOOL,  put  down,   69 

DORCHESTER,  chief  characters  lher«,  •  31  166 

DEFENCE,  measures  for,  by  Congress,   114 

EPISCOPAL  MISSIONARIES,   94 

EPISCOPALIANS  complain  against  the  Puritans,   41 

"         claim  control  over  the  Puritans  in  N.  England,  .     44  46 

EARTHQUAKE  in  New  England,   88 

FAST,  first  Continental,     .   118 


INDEX.  199 

FRENCH  PROTESTANTS,   .   173 

FRENCH  discover  parts  of  North  America,   7 

"       make  settlements  in  North  America,   7 

"        war  which  is  expensive,   94 

troublesome,   ^9 

FAYETTE,  LA  Marquis,   131 

FEDERAL  CONSTITUTION  adopted,   145 

GOVERNiMENT  opposed,   189 

"                  "       favorable  to  the  prosperity  of  the  country,  190 

FREEZLAND,  an  island  visited,   8 

"            disappeared  since,   8 

FIRE  IN  BOSTON,   75 

FIRE  ENGINES,   85 

FUNERAL  EXPENSES,  curtailed,  •  86 

GOVERNOR  GAGE  adjourned  the  General  Court  to  Salem,  and 

there  dissolved  them,   114 

GORGES,  Sir  F.,  made  a  temporary  settlement  atSaco,  1G16,  .  14 

"          "          not  friendly  to  the  Puritans,   164 

HARVARD  COLLEGE,  number  of  alumni  in  war  of  the  revolution,  116 

founded  in  1630,  ........  47 

HARTFORD  settled,   43 

Convention,  in  1815,   157 

HOSPITAL,  GENERAL,  established,    .........  156 

HUDSON'S  RIVER,  visited  by  an  Englishman,  but  in  the  ser- 
vice of  the  Dutch,  •    .  "11 

INSURRECTION  in  Massachusetts,   144 

ISLES  OF  SHOALS,  or  Smith's  Islands,   163 

IRON  MILLS,   91 

llNDIANS,  few  and  friendly,   52  53 

JOHNSON,  ISAAC,  first  settler  in  Boston,   33 

"                        had  a  large  estate  and  income,     ....  33 

"                "       died,  and  his  wife,  lady  Arbella,  ....  33 

JAY,  JOHN,  President  of  Congress,  and  minister  to  Spain,    .    .  184 

INDEPENDENCE  declared,     .    .    .    •   122 

IMPORTATIONS  from  England  in  1784  and  1785,   187 

INDIANS  diminished  in  Massachusetts,   190 

INFIDELITY  prevails.   191 

INDIANS,  their  lands  purchased,   46  63 

"         gospel  preached  to,   56  57 

"          Bible  printed,    .   66 

INOCULATION  for  the  small  pox,   85 

JONES,  MARGARET,  hung  for  a  witch,   58 


200 


INDEX. 


KING  JAMES,  Charles  I.,  Charles  II.,  and  James  I.,- 

all  arbitrary,   17  54  67  76 

LAND  BANK  m  Boston,   88 

LAW,  Common,  of  England  allowed  in  Plymouth  Colony,    .    .  172 

LAWS  published,   53  65 

LEARNING  encouraged,   54 

LEARNED  men  in  New  England,  .   174 

LONGEVITY  of  some  of  the  first  settlers,  .    .......  73 

LORD'S  DAY,  a  law  regulating  its  observance,   191 

MANUFACTURES  encouraged  and  increased,   145 

MAINE  proposed  to  be  made  separate,   187 

MASONS,  first  lodge  of,  in  Massachusetts,   88  150  158 

MASSACHUSETTS  had  often  a  fifth  part  of  the  army,    ...  133 

MASSACHUSETTS  Debt,   .    .    .    .    •  135  17  153 

"               taxes,  high  in,                               •    .    .  13  143 

"               inhabitants  of,   143 

deprived  of  charter,   76 

MANLY,  Captain,   177 

MIDDLESEX  CANAL,    .   ;   149 

MORTON,  THOMAS,  at  Braintree,  an  immoral  and  lurbulant 

man,   24 

MORELL,  W,,  an  Episcopal  clergyman,  some  time  at  Plymouth, 

but  did  not  interfere,   22 

MOLASSES  made  from  corn  stalks,  182 

NEGROES  in  Massachusetts,   88 

"         most  numerous  in  Massachusetts,   91 

NEW  HAVEN,  settled,   49 

NEWSPAPER,  first  printed  in  Boston,  in  1704,   83 

"              second  in  1721,   83 

NOVA  SCOTIA  ceded  to  great  Britain,   83 

NEW  HAMPSHIRE,   171 

NEW  HAMPSHIRE,  inhabitants  in  1800,   182 

OATH  OF  THE  FREEMEN,   176 

PAPER  manufactured,   .    .    .    ,   94 

PAPER  MONEY,  •  84  194 

PENITENTIARY,   151 

PEACE  SOCIETY,  •   158 

PITT,  Mr.  favored  the  American  cause,   110 

PEQUOT  WAR,  •   42 

POWDER  MILLS.  •   177 


INDEX.  201 

PHIPS'  expedition  to  Canada  and  Nova  Scotia,   78 

PRIVATEERS  fortunate,  ~  126 

PURITAJNS  severely  persecuted  in  England,   90 

"           increase  there  in  1580,     .    .    .    •   9 

"           some  retire  to  Holland,   9 

"           remove  to  New  England,  10  11 

"           principal  men  who  came  to  Plymouth,   .....  20 

"           their  first  object  to  provide  for  religious  worship,    .  33 

PLYMOUTH  COLONY,  part  of,  set  off  to  Rhode  Island,      .    .  98 

"           few  of  the  inhabitants  merchants,  •  172 

RELIGIOUS  FREEDOM,   157 

RELIGIOUS  DISPUTES,   47  149 

RELIGION,  the  chief  cause  of  the  settlement  of  N.  England,  .  15  17 
REPRESENTATIVES  of  first  Congress  under  the  new  Con- 
stitution,                       .....  189 

ROBINSON,  REV.  JOHN,  B.  D.,  pastor  of  Leyden  church, 

died  in  1625,  aged  60,   25 

RHODE  ISLAND  charter,   66 

SACHEMS,  Indian,,in  Massachusetts,   166 

SALEM  settled  by  Endicott,  .    .   27 

SHIP  BUILDING,  increased,  •   .  81 

SHIPS,  public,  armed,   184 

SHIPS  employed  to  transport  people  to  Massachusetts,'  ...  52 
SMITH,  CAPT.  JOHN,  visited  coasts  of  New  England  in  1614, 

and  made  a  map,                               .  13 

SLAVE  TRADE  proposed  by  Massachusetts  to  be  prohibited, 

but  the  king  did  not  approve,   57 

SLAVES,  condition  of,    187 

SLAVERY  abolished  in  Massachusetts,   188 

SLAVE  TRADE  prohibited,   189 

SCHOOLS  in  Plymouth,   69 

SCHOONERS  first  built,  at  Cape  Ann,   52 

SPIRITUOUS  LIQUORS,  sale  of,  regulated,   52 

STATE  HOUSE  in  Boston,  new,   150 

SUPREME  JUDICIAL  COURT  organized  anew,   153 

SYNOD  called  to  consider  the  cause  of  the  public  calamities,     .  72 

STYLE,- new  and  adopted,    .   91 

TEA  given  up,   108 

TEA  destroyed  in  Boston  and  Virginia,    110 

TIDE  high,  and  severe  gale,   45 

TORIES  and  Refugees,  estates  forfeited,   187 

TREATY  of  peace  with  England,   141 

UNION  of  the  New  England  Colonies,                                 .  56 


202 


INDEX. 


VANE,  Sir  Henry,  in  Massachusetts,   46 

VESSELS  built,   54 

VACCINATIOJN  practised  in  Massachusetts,   151 

WAR,  people  in  the  colonies  averse  from,  if  they  could  be  re- 
stored to  their  liberties,   181 

"        they  acted  on  the  defensive  in  it,   181 

"        always  an  evil,   182 

WAR  of  1812,   156 

WASHINGTON,  General,  took  the  command  of  the  American 

army  by  election  of  the  Continental  army  120 
"            brave,  prudent,  judicious,  passive,     .    .    120  122  180 

"            proposes  to  attack  the  British  in  Boston,    .    .  181 
WESSAGUSSET,  or  Weymouth,  settled  in  1622,  by  T.  Wes- 

ton,  who  left  it  .in  two  years,   22 

WILLIAMS,  ROGER,  banished,   44 

"                      his  character,   45 


The  Subscriber  proposes,  if  his  health  will  permit,  to  publish  a 
second  edition  of  the  History  of  Massachusetts,  for  two  hundred  years, — 
from  1620  to  1820.  It  will  contain  several  important  State  papers,  not 
given  in  the  first  edition,  and  many  additional  notes,  to  elucidate  and  con- 
firm the  statements  made  in  the  context. 

A.  BRADFORD. 


i 


